RAMALLAH — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) publicly urged Hamas on Wednesday to immediately release all hostages it is holding, saying doing so would prevent Israel from using their captivity as a pretext for continued military operations in Gaza.
“Handing over the hostages would strip Israel of its excuses to prolong the war and destroy Gaza,” Abbas said during a speech to the PA’s Central Council.
Harsh Words for Hamas
In a rare and pointed critique, Abbas blamed Hamas for the devastation in Gaza, referencing the group’s 2007 military coup that ousted the Palestinian Authority from the coastal enclave. “The one who carried out the coup gave Israel the justification to destroy Gaza,” Abbas said. “The consequences have been catastrophic — 2,165 families have been completely wiped out, and 6,664 others partially destroyed. More than two-thirds of homes are gone.”
He added that Hamas must relinquish control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and transform itself into a political party.
Accusations Against Israel and the U.S.
Abbas also rejected what he called efforts by Israel and the United States to displace Gaza’s population, warning that “any forced displacement would be a new Nakba.”
“Israel is trying to erase the Palestinian issue — in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem,” he said, adding that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7. He also criticized Israel’s withholding of tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA, describing it as part of a broader effort to financially destabilize Palestinian institutions.
Damage in Rafah: 60–75% of City Destroyed
The comments came one day after geospatial analyst Ben Zion Makles released imagery-based estimates suggesting that approximately 60% of Rafah has been completely destroyed, with damage possibly reaching up to 75% when including structurally unsafe buildings.
