Palestinian president Abbas urges Hamas to hand over its arms

Mahmoud Abbas urges Hamas to lay down arms

• Wants PA to control besieged Palestinian territory; likely to name successor soon • Israeli attacks claim 18 more lives; European powers call for end to aid blockade GAZA CITY: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called upon Hamas on Wednesday to lay down arms and hand the running of Gaza to his Palestinian Authority (PA) in order to answer international doubts over the PA’s role at a key moment for the region. Abbas also urged Hamas to free a…

A Palestinian leader just gave Trump an unprecedented opening to pursue peace

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas just did something very unusual for an Arab leader: He took a risk with bold statements and moral clarity. “Sons of dogs, hand over the hostages,” he said in a televised speech on Wednesday, calling out Hamas for prolonging a war that has brought catastrophe to both Palestinians and Israelis, and demanding that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza and surrender its weapons. This was not some vague diplom…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas on Wednesday to release the remaining Israeli hostages. "Our people pay the price, not Israel (...)", he said. With the hostages, Hamas merely provided Israel with a pretext "to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip." Abbas also called on the radical Islamic organization to hand over the weapons to the Palestinian Authority. It should rather renounce the armed struggle and transform itself into a…

Abbas: PA should return to ruling Gaza with Hamas as a political party

The Palestinian Authority Chairman is calling on Hamas to hand over its weapons to the PA, relinquish power, and stop giving Israel "pretexts to destroy Gaza."

Mahmoud Abbas Airs His Ire at Hamas

Arabs around the Mideast are turning their backs on the terrorist group’s extreme, murderous ideology.

Palestinian Authority President Calls on Hamas to Lay Down Arms

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas called on April 23 for the Hamas terrorist group to lay down arms and hand over the running of the Gaza Strip to his organization. The veteran leader urged the move as part of efforts to answer international doubts about the authority’s role and capabilities in the wake of the unrest that has gripped the region for almost two years. “Hamas must hand over [its] Gaza responsibilities and hand over…