• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas heads the opening session of the Palestinian Central Council, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that the Palestinian people are enduring "a new Nakba," as Israeli aggression continues across the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at the opening of the 32nd session of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah, he highlighted the ongoing destruction in Palestinian refugee camps, villages, and cities, emphasizing the daily toll of assaults and fragmentation.

Abbas stressed that the Palestinian martyrs and wounded “are not just numbers or tactical losses,” countering narratives that downplay the human cost. He praised the resilience of Gaza’s population, particularly their steadfast rejection of forced displacement amid continued attacks.

Sharp criticism of Hamas' role in Gaza and the Palestinian cause

In a direct rebuke of Hamas, Abbas accused the movement of undermining the Palestinian national struggle. He asserted that since 2007, Hamas has contributed to the separation of Gaza from the West Bank and al-Quds, thereby weakening the broader Palestinian cause and, in his words, providing “free services” to the Israeli occupation.

Abbas called on Hamas to surrender its weapons and release Israeli captives, alleging that doing so would strip "Israel" of its justification for ongoing aggression in Gaza. He urged Hamas to transition into a political party, operate within Palestinian law, and accept the legitimacy of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

“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. "I'm the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over."

Call for unity under the PLO and an end to division

Abbas emphasized the need to reorganize Palestinian political institutions under the PLO, which he described as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people." He stressed the importance of unity in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged Hamas to engage in the reconstruction process without displacing residents, in line with an Arab-led initiative.

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He also highlighted the broader humanitarian toll, referencing a devastating attack on Yafa school in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, which resulted in several casualties among displaced civilians. "The school was housing displaced people. The bombing sparked a massive blaze, and several charred bodies have since been recovered," Abbas recounted.

International appeal for recognition of Palestinian statehood

Abbas appealed to members of the UN Security Council to recognize the State of Palestine, stating that such recognition is vital for achieving peace and stability in the region. He identified the immediate priorities as halting the military aggression on Gaza, ending assaults in the West Bank, and protecting sacred sites from violations.

He criticized the United States for what he described as a double standard in its approach to the Palestinian issue and condemned "Israel’s" financial measures, including the withholding of over two billion dollars in tax revenues.

According to Abbas, these actions aim to impose new realities on al-Quds through blockades, restricted access, and efforts to change the historical status of holy sites.

Hamas urges unity following Palestinian Central Council meeting

Earlier on Wednesday, the Hamas movement affirmedthat the Palestinian Central Council’s meeting in Ramallah—held at this critical juncture—could represent a genuine opportunity to forge a unified national stance in the face of ongoing genocide.

In a statement, Hamas noted that "the meeting came a year and a half after the outbreak of the war and was held in a partial format that neither reflects national consensus nor includes all components of the [Palestinian] people."

The group called for the meeting "to rise to the level of the Palestinian people’s sacrifices" by adopting responsible decisions to stop the war and restore a unified national position.

Demands to end security coordination and escalate resistance

It also urged the activation of previous Central Council resolutions, foremost among them ending security coordination with the Israeli occupation, severing ties with "Israel", and "intensifying resistance against the occupation and its Judaization and settlement projects aimed at turning the West Bank into fragmented, non-sovereign cantons."

The statement further called on members of the Central Council to assume their national responsibilities, reject the imposed guardianship over Palestinian political life, and take serious steps to revitalize and rebuild the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on the basis of genuine partnership and representation.

Hamas also urged the activation of legal proceedings in international courts to prosecute the Israeli occupation for its crimes.

This comes as the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza has risen to 51,266, in addition to 116,991 injuries since October 7, 2023, according to the Health Ministry in the Palestinian enclave, with nearly 1,900 killed and 5,000 injured since "Israel" resumed its aggression on Gaza.

Read more: Hamas delegation to discuss 'full ceasefire package' in upcoming talks