Amid Gulf pressure, Abbas tells Macron 'Hamas will no longer rule Gaza'
Abbas has increased his anti-Hamas rhetoric in recent weeks as war rages in Gaza and a deal with Israel remains elusive, but the group has refused the call to disarm.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel for the first time in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, France’s government said Tuesday. The letter also called for Hamas’ demilitarization and the deployment of international forces to Gaza. It drew a sharp rebuke from Hamas and comes ahead of a high-level conference in New York aimed at advancing recognition of a Palestinian state.
The letter, dated Monday, was addressed to both Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in advance of the conference they will chair next week at the United Nations headquarters.
Abbas’ criticism of Hamas comes as he seeks international backing for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. In the letter, excerpts of which were obtained by Al-Monitor, Abbas described Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack as “unacceptable and condemnable” and urged the group to “immediately release all hostages and captives.”
PA's postwar ambitions
