Palestinian President Tells Hamas: Release Hostages and Hand Over Gaza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a blunt demand to Hamas: disarm, hand over power, and release the remaining hostages.

Abbas argued that releasing the hostages would "shut down" Israel’s justification for continuing the war in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7, 2023. In his words, "The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza. It must be stopped – hundreds are being killed every day. Why don’t you hand over the hostages?" Abbas didn’t mince words, apparently referring to Hamas as "sons of dogs" during his address—a phrase that could make a diplomat choke on their coffee.

The remarks came during a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council, which is poised to pick a deputy who may eventually succeed the 89-year-old Abbas. Notably, this is the first time since the current war began that Abbas has called for Hamas to transfer power back to the PA, although he’s made similar calls before.

Whether Hamas will budge is an open question. The two groups have been at loggerheads for nearly 20 years, ever since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2006 and ousted the Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile, Hamas is reportedly under financial strain and facing growing unrest in Gaza, though that hasn’t led them to change course yet.

International actors continue to push for the PA to play a role in the future of Gaza, but Israel remains uninterested in that plan. On top of that, the PA’s controversial "pay for slay" policy—making payments to families of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis—has drawn criticism from both the Israeli government and the former Trump administration. Abbas reformed the policy earlier this year, but Israeli officials claim it’s just a new trick to keep payments flowing to convicted terrorists through other means.