Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas urged Hamas on Wednesday to swiftly agree to a Gaza deal to prevent severe consequences, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Abbas emphasized the need for a prompt resolution to the prisoner deal to prevent a calamity comparable to the Nakba of 1948, referencing the war that led to the displacement of 760,000 Palestinians during the creation of Israel.
Despite the ongoing talks hosted by Egypt this week to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Abbas’s internationally recognized Palestinian Authority has not been directly involved. The PA, situated in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, faces criticism from Palestinians who feel their statehood aspirations since 1948 have not been realized.
While the United States, a key supporter of Israel and a funder of the PA, expresses support for a Palestinian state, it also advocates for a leadership overhaul. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned last month that Abbas is “committed” to reforming the PA to effectively assume responsibility for Gaza, aiming to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under Palestinian leadership. Since 2007, Gaza has been under a separate administration led by Hamas, following the expulsion of Abbas loyalists from the territory.
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