Palestinian President Angry At Hamas For Delaying Release Hostages

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH (Worthy News) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned Hamas as “sons of dogs” for delaying the release of Israeli hostages and said the group should disarm itself.

Abbas stressed the priority of Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies should be to stop “the Israeli genocide that the Gaza Strip is being subjected to.”

He claimed that the hostages present an “excuse” for Israel to continue attacking the territory. Israel’s government denied involvement in genocide, saying it targets Hamas after the group killed 1,200 people and kidnapped hundreds in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Abbas’s remarks came at a leadership council where he was due to name a successor amid doubts among Western and Arab powers about the Palestinian Authority’s ability to play a viable-long long-term role in peace efforts.

“Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages,” Abbas said in a televised speech from Ramallah in the West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria.

“I’m the one paying the price; our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over, “ Abbas said.

“Every day, there are deaths. Why? Because they [Hamas] refuse to hand over the American hostage,” stressed the Palestinian leader, referring to Edan Alexander, who was reportedly on a list of hostages Israel had asked to be freed in a proposal rejected by Hamas.

REMARKS ‘INSULTING’

“You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this” ordeal, Abbas added, leveling a harsh Arabic epithet at Hamas.

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, condemned Abbas’s comments, calling them “insulting.”

“Abbas continues to describe a significant and integral part of his own people using derogatory language,” Naim said.

“Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people,” he added in remarks monitored by Worthy News.

Analysts noted deep political and ideological divisions have marked ties between Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas for nearly two decades.

Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have accused Hamas of “undermining” Palestinian unity, while Hamas criticized the president for “collaborating” with Israel and cracking down on dissent in the West Bank, observers say.

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