‘Insulting’: Hamas condemns Abbas’s remarks on Gaza captives

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), rebuked remarks made by Hamas, who demanded that the Palestinian-ruled Palestinian government in Gaza release Israeli prisoners and lay down weapons.

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, claimed on Thursday that Abbas’s earlier remarks were “insulting.”

Abbas repeatedly and he seems to be blaming our country’s citizens for the crimes committed during the occupation and its ongoing hostility, he said.

Abbas pleaded with Hamas on Wednesday to release all of its captives, arguing that holding them would give Israel “excuses” to attack Gaza.

At a meeting in Ramallah, the PA’s seat in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Abbas stated, “Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, with the most notable being the hostages held.”

“My people are paying the price, not Israel,” declares the statement. Just hand them over to my brother.

Abbas claimed that “every day there are deaths.” He continued, “You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this” ordeal, uttering a harsh Arabic phrase at Hamas.

Rifle long rift

For nearly 20 years, Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas have engaged in deep political and ideological divisions.

Hamas has frequently criticized Abbas and the PA for undermining Palestinian unity, while Hamas has also criticized the former for working with Israel and repressing opposition in the West Bank.

Abbas’s remarks were condemned on Telegram by the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, which split from his Fatah in the 2000s.

We firmly condemn President Abbas’ offensive remarks at the Central Council meeting regarding the resistance and the resistance fighters of our people, ignoring the people’s sacrifices and struggles, and ignoring the suffering and ongoing sacrifices of the prisoners, the statement read.

We condemn the PA leadership’s continued pursuit of this discourse, which criminalizes the resistance and absolves the occupation of its decades-long crimes against its citizens, particularly the genocidal war against Gaza, the annexation and Judaization of Jerusalem, and the severe suffering of our brave prisoners.

Abbas was also requested to apologize for his remarks by the organization.

We urge the Palestinian Authority’s president to apologize for his offensive speech and to revers any actions that divide and support Zionist principles. We urge him to resume his disregard for the people’s choices and surrender, and to make the absurd choice.

The Ministry of Health in the enclave reports that at least 1, 928 people have died in Gaza since Israel’s campaign resumed on March 18; that number is the highest ever recorded since the war started, with at least 51,305 people dead overall.

Source: Aljazeera