by Ephraim Tepler and Itamar Marcus
By presenting itself as the more capable and politically viable force, the PA hopes to garner both regional and international support for its return to power in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority continues to criticize Hamas, not for the October 7th atrocities, but for the suffering Hamas brought on Gaza and its inability to end the war. By presenting itself as the more capable and politically viable force, the PA hopes to garner both regional and international support for its return to power in Gaza.
In the latest example, Mahmoud Abbas offers to protect Hamas if it would join the PLO:
Director of Palestinian Center for Strategic Studies Muhammad Al-Masri: "Preserving the sole legal representative [the PLO], which is the national identity that unifies [us], is what can now shield and act as a mantle or umbrella to protect Hamas. This is a way out for it... If Hamas wishes to continue in future political life and be part of our Palestinian social fabric, it needs... to act wisely… [PA] President [Abbas] sent [PLO Executive Committee Secretary] Hussein Al-Sheikh to tour three states to convey a message that we are ready to protect Hamas."
[Official PA TV News, March 25, 2025]
Abbas' senior advisor, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, also seeks to show that the man-on-the-street in Gaza shares similar sentiments. He posted a video to his YouTube account with the title: "A civilian in the Gaza Strip: 'Hamas gave the occupation a golden opportunity to destroy the Gaza Strip.'" In the video, a Gazan demands that Hamas step aside, not because Hamas commits atrocities or is wrong ideologically, but because it "did not study politics" and therefore isn't familiar enough "with the Jews and their tricks":
Video title: "A civilian in the Gaza Strip: Hamas gave the occupation (i.e., Israel) a golden opportunity to destroy the Gaza Strip"
Unidentified Gaza citizen: "Hamas gave a golden opportunity to the Sons of Zion to continue killing. There is no health system. There is no education system, and the children are thrown onto the streets... Today, [Hamas official] Mr. Osama Hamdan says that an external force is operating us. We are purer than him. Our feet are purer than his moustache. He is abroad... in a five-star hotel with four women, eating delicacies and meat... I demand that Hamas step aside and hand over the reins to Egypt, which has extensive knowledge in international politics, which knows everything and is familiar with the Jews and their tricks. [Hamas] did not study politics and did not study in universities, just in mosques."
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, March 27, 2025]
The PA's official daily criticized Hamas for leading "internal wars" and "for the continued rift" with Fatah, the PA's ruling party:
"The Palestinian National Council (i.e., the legislative body of the PLO) said that the demands of the protesters in Gaza are legitimate demands that reflect the desire of the Palestinian people to live in freedom and security, far from the tyranny, internal wars, and holding the fate of 2.5 million people hostage to their insane adventures... The Palestinian National Council held Hamas responsible for the continuation of the current situation and the continued [Fatah-Hamas] rift in the Gaza Strip and emphasized that the Palestinian people will not continue to be silent in the face of this tragic situation."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 28, 2025]
Mahmoud Al-Habbash summarizes the PA's agenda when he says that Hamas should simply "hand everything over to the PLO":
Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Hamas should hand everything over to the PLO… Hand over the weapons, decision-making, [Israeli] hostages, and everything related to the Gaza Strip over to the PLO... We are talking about Hamas' exit from the arena of power, handing over the power, leadership, and management to the PLO and PA."
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, March 25, 2025]
Ephraim Tepler and Itamar Marcus
Source: https://palwatch.org/page/37114#yt-41xB03S9JIE
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