The President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has urged Hamas to disarm, give up control, and free the remaining hostages.

According to the Palestinian leader, releasing the hostages would eliminate Israel’s “excuses” for continuing its military operations, which were initiated following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.

“The immediate need is to halt the ongoing war of extermination in Gaza, where hundreds are dying daily,” Abbas reportedly stated. “Why aren’t the hostages being released?”

During his address, Abbas also reportedly referred to Hamas as “sons of dogs.”

Abbas’s remarks were made at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council, where a deputy is expected to be chosen as a potential successor to the 89-year-old PA president.

While Abbas has called upon Hamas to cede authority to the PA in the past, this is the first such demand he’s made since the recent conflict in Gaza began.

Despite Abbas’s claim that it could help bring an end to the conflict and safeguard , it remains uncertain whether Hamas will heed his call. Hamas and the PA have been rivals for almost two decades, ever since the terror group ousted the PA from Gaza in 2006 after seizing power.

The international community has been advocating for the PA to have a role in the “day after” plans for Gaza, an idea that has not been well-received by Israel.

Both the Israeli government and the have been critical of the PA’s “pay for slay” policy, which was reformed by Abbas in February. This policy involved providing payments to family members of Palestinians who were imprisoned, killed, or wounded in connection with attacks against Israelis.

According to Axios, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated at the time that “This is a new fraudulent trick by the Palestinian Authority, which intends to continue making payments to terrorists and their families through other payment channels.”

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