Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has made a call for Hamas to disarm and hand over control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, stressing that the militant group will not have a role in governing the territory.
Abbas delivered his remarks on Sunday via video link to a United Nations summit on the two-state solution.
The Palestinian leader was unable to attend the event in person after being denied a U.S. visa.
His statement is being seen as one of his strongest public rejections of Hamas since the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
“Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza. Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas declared.
In addition to rejecting Hamas’s authority in Gaza, Abbas condemned the group’s past actions.
“We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas actions on October 7, 2023,” he said.
The comments mark a rare public distancing from Hamas by the Palestinian Authority, which has long faced pressure to present a united leadership for Palestinians.
Meanwhile, world leaders and humanitarian groups continue to push for a ceasefire and a long-term political solution to the Gaza conflict.
The ongoing violence has left thousands dead and millions displaced, raising concerns about regional stability.
