Abbas Urges Hamas to Disarm, Transfer Gaza Control to Palestinian Authority

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has called on Hamas to disarm and hand over control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, stressing that the group will have no role in governing the territory under a future Palestinian administration.

Abbas, who addressed a UN summit on the two-state solution via video link after being denied a U.S. visa to attend in person, also condemned Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

“Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas said. “We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas’ actions on October 7, 2023.”

His remarks come amid mounting international pressure for a unified Palestinian leadership to advance peace negotiations, as the protracted Gaza conflict continues to destabilize the region.