Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas yesterday urged the militant group Hamas to release the hostages still being held in Gaza, calling it the main factor fuelling Israeli attacks on the territory.
“Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages,” Abbas said at a meeting in Ramallah.
“I’m the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over.”
Abbas continued: “Every day there are deaths. Why? Because they [Hamas] refuse to hand over the American hostage.
“The Palestinian leader was referring to Edan Alexander, who was reportedly on a list of hostages Israel had asked to be freed in a proposal that was recently rejected by Hamas.
“You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this ordeal,” he added, levelling a harsh Arabic epithet at Hamas.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, condemned Abbas’ remarks, calling them “insulting”.
“Abbas continues to describe a significant and integral part of his own people using derogatory language,” Naim said. “Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people.”
Ties between Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas have been marked by deep political and ideological divisions for nearly two decades.
Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have often accused Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity, while Hamas has criticised the president for collaborating with Israel and cracking down on dissent in the West Bank.
Israel continued to pound Gaza yesterday, with rescuers saying at least 25 people had been killed, including 11 in a strike on a school-turned-shelter.
“The school was housing displaced people. The bombing sparked a massive blaze, and several charred bodies have since been recovered,” a civil defence spokesman said.
Since the war began following Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, tens of thousands of displaced Gazans have sought refuge in schools.
Aid agencies estimate that the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced at least once.
Germany, France, and Britain yesterday called on Israel to stop blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning of “an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death”.
“We urge Israel to immediately restart a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians,” the three countries’ foreign ministers said in a joint statement.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
