Palestinian Authority Asks Hamas to Relinquish Power in Gaza Strip

RAMALLAH, SUNDAY – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah faction have urged the Hamas group to relinquish power in order to save Palestinian residents in Gaza. This move is also aimed at preventing Israel from annexing the territory. “Hamas must show compassion to the women, children, and men in Gaza,” said Fatah Spokesperson Monther al-Hayek in a written statement to AFP News Agency on Saturday (22/3/2025).

He urged Hamas to relinquish control of the government in Gaza. According to him, the continuation of the war would end the existence of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip if they insist on holding out and resisting Israel.

The Hamas group has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 following a conflict with Fatah. Previously, in the 2006 elections, Hamas succeeded in securing the majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament from Fatah. Repeated attempts at reconciliation between Hamas, which adheres to Islamic ideology, and Fatah, which follows secular nationalist ideology, have failed since then.

The Gaza Strip is currently in a state of devastation following attacks by Israel in October 2023. These attacks were a response to Hamas' assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Most of the fighters from Hamas, Fatah, and Palestinian factions are descendants of Palestinian refugees who were expelled by Israeli military forces from their homes and lands in May 1948 (the Al Nakba or Catastrophe event) to establish the State of Israel.

The Hamas group has repeatedly stated its readiness to relinquish power in the Gaza Strip after the war ends. However, they refuse to surrender the weapons that have been used in their struggle.

"We are ready to accept the Gaza administration (post-war) but are not interested in being involved in it," said Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanua in a written statement on Saturday.

Hamas emphasized that the most important aspect is national consensus. It added that Hamas has agreed to Egypt's proposal, which involves the establishment of an Independent Committee comprising professionals and technocrats to manage Gaza post-war and oversee the city's reconstruction. However, Mahmud Abbas stated that the Independent Committee must report to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, West Bank, as the legitimate government of Palestine.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the idea. Following the failure to reach an agreement for a second phase of ceasefire talks, Israel continued its attacks starting with airstrikes and ground attacks since Tuesday. On Friday (3/21/2025), Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to annex parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release the remaining Israelis currently being held hostage by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza.

Of the 251 hostages, 58 are still being held in Palestine. It is believed that 34 of them were killed during the Israeli attack on Gaza.

On the other hand, Israel's attacks on Gaza have left nearly 50,000 Palestinians in the territory dead and millions more displaced. "We are tired of being displaced again and again," said Ramadan Houdoud in a refugee camp in Al Zawayda in central Gaza after leaving Gaza City.

Another refugee woman, Umm Khaled, lamented their plight. “There is no water, no food, and we cannot rest. Where should we go? There must be a way out. Are there no fellow Muslims who will help us?” Khaled said.

Meanwhile, Hamas, Saturday (22/3/2025) accused the United States of distorting the facts by saying that they were deliberately prolonging the war by refusing to release Israeli hostages.

"The claim that Hamas chose war and refused to release hostages is a distortion of the facts," Hamas said in a written statement denying the accusations of the United States National Security Council Spokesperson Brian Hughes, Tuesday (3/18/2025). Previously Hughes said that Hamas could have released Israeli hostages but instead chose war.

Hamas added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliberately refused to negotiate further with Hamas, in order to save Netanyahu's power and the Israeli extreme right wing. In fact, many parties in Israel oppose Netanyahu and the right wing. Among the opposing groups are the families of the hostages. They reject war for the safety of the hostages.

"The US statement once again proves their involvement in the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian nation including supporting the occupation, genocide, starving us and besieging more than two million Palestinians in Gaza," Hamas said in a statement.

Lastly, since last Tuesday, Israel has continued its attacks on several targets in the Gaza Strip. The attacks have killed more than 700 people, most of them women and children.

The Israeli army also regained control of the Netzarim Corridor that divides the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip. (AFP/AP)