Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered an address on Wednesday as he convened the 32nd session of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah.
During his remarks, Abbas laid out his strategy for what he described as the “day after” the war in Gaza. Central to his proposal was the reestablishment of the Palestinian Authority’s administrative control over the Gaza Strip, replacing Hamas as the ruling entity.
Abbas placed direct blame on Hamas for the devastation brought by the war, holding them responsible for the large number of casualties and describing the situation as a “Nakba” for the Palestinian Arab people. He dismissed the notion that these were just “tactical losses” or “numbers,” stating that the real cause of the suffering was the October 7 massacre and the ongoing holding of hostages—actions he said served as excuses for the destruction of Gaza and the displacement of its population.
He renewed his criticisms of Hamas, accusing the organization of undermining the broader Palestinian cause. He alleged that Hamas leaders had used the Palestinian struggle to solicit donations that ended up in their personal bank accounts.
Abbas outlined what he referred to as the key “Palestinian priorities.” These included an end to what he called a “war of annihilation,” a complete Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip, halting military operations in Judea and Samaria, safeguarding religious sites, ending the blockade on Gaza, and starting efforts to rebuild the region while opposing forced displacement.
He emphasized that the Palestinian Authority must be granted full governance over Gaza, with a mandate to disarm Hamas and transition the organization into a civilian political movement.
{Matzav.com}