Abbas vs. Hamas: the fragility of the Palestinian front between history and current events

Translated by Irene Cecchi

Ramallah. The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas —also known as Abu Mazen— made significant statements during the leadership council of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) held in Ramallah, in the West Bank. The most striking of these was directed at Hamas and its militants, whom Abbas called “sons of dogs”. He demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages and the disarmament of the Islamist organization.

According to President Abbas, the release of the hostages is the only way to immediately end the conflict in Gaza by removing Israel’s “justifications”. His remarks were described by many media outlets as “unprecedented” since they represent the strongest expression of anger and disagreement with Hamas from the president to date. Although he has never explicitly condemned the October 7th attack against Israel, Abbas has consistently been critical of Hamas, particularly over operations targeting civilians. In his speech, Abbas also called for the reunification of the various Palestinian factions under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), of which he is president, succeeding Yasser Arafat with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state and completing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Specifically, Abbas reiterated that “Hamas must end its control over the Gaza Strip”, handing over political affairs to the PLO and the “legitimate Palestinian National Authority”. He urged Hamas to “renounce weapons, transform into a political party operating under Palestinian state laws, and adhere to international legitimacy”. Abbas further accused Hamas of “severely damaging the Palestinian cause” claiming that it has provided many excuses that have legitimized “crimes and conspiracies” within Gaza. Other key points of the conference included a call to implement United Nations resolutions and the convening of an international peace conference.

Hamas responded sharply, accusing Abbas of “placing blame for crimes and occupation on the Palestinian people” in a way that is “suspicious and persistent,” suggesting his stance is the result of external pressures.

The political and military conflict between Fatah (the political and paramilitary organization founded by Arafat and Khalaf, part of the PLO since 1967, and to which Abbas belongs) and Hamas is not new: it dates back to 2006, when Hamas won legislative elections in the Gaza Strip, which was then still under PNA administrative control. Since 2007, Hamas has effectively governed the territory.

Since then, only local elections have been held in Palestine, while parliamentary elections have been suspended. The conflict between Fatah and Hamas escalated militarily between 2006 and 2007, culminating in Hamas taking control of the Strip after clashes that began in Ramallah, when Palestinian security forces opened fire on a Hamas rally. Tensions have persisted throughout Palestinian history, often intertwined with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, up until the Beijing agreement signed on July 23rd 2024, where 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, agreed to form a national reconciliation government after the Gaza War.

However, the agreement was opposed by Israel: Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Abbas of “embracing terrorists”. A few months later, the relationship between the PNA and Hamas appears to be deteriorating once again, especially in light of recent Jordanian actions against the Muslim Brotherhood. The organization was banned over alleged plans for illegal activities, including drone attacks through its armed wing, the Islamic Action Front.

Despite denials by the Brotherhood, the Jordanian government ordered the confiscation of its assets and closure of its offices—a strategy seemingly supported by multiple regional actors, likely including Abbas, aiming to limit the rise of Islamist extremism in the Middle East at a politically favorable moment, including on the Syrian front.

Meanwhile, Hamas has offered to release the hostages in exchange for a five-year truce, as confirmed by official sources, while a delegation has traveled to Cairo to continue negotiations.

The political landscape remains extremely unstable: the internal division between the PNA and Hamas could further jeopardize Palestinian unity and hinder the reconciliation process launched through the Chinese plan. In such a fragmented scenario, observing the internal dynamics of the Palestinian front remains crucial to fully grasp the fragility and instability of the situation.

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