Abbas’s Dramatic Ultimatum to Hamas: Disarm or Lose Everything

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared that the PA is ready to assume control of the Gaza Strip, but only if Hamas recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole representative of the Palestinian people, disbands its independent militias, and supports a unified Palestinian state. In an interview with Al-Arabiya, Abbas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of waging a “war of annihilation” against Palestinians, claiming Israel aims to “completely destroy Palestine.” He alleged that Netanyahu’s motives include prolonging his tenure to evade legal accountability.

Abbas praised Egypt and Jordan for opposing what he described as Israel’s plans to “expel” Palestinians from Gaza and Judea and Samaria. Regarding post-war governance, he expressed openness to Arab or international partnerships in managing Gaza but emphasized that Hamas must align with PLO principles. Abbas highlighted the PA’s diplomatic efforts to end the war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted over 250, and to secure full UN membership for a Palestinian state. He claimed Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood and that Israelis regret recognizing the PLO in the 1993 Oslo Accords, which he insisted involved no Palestinian concessions.

The war has devastated Gaza, with Hamas’s control since 2007 complicating aid delivery. Israel, citing security threats from Hamas’s tunnels and rocket attacks, maintains a blockade with Egypt, while delivering thousands of tons of aid weekly directly to Gazan civilians through distribution sites. Abbas’s conditions face resistance from Hamas, which rejects PLO oversight, and Israeli leaders like Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for permanent control. The PA’s governance bid hinges on navigating these tensions and international support, amid ongoing ceasefire talks.