PA's Abbas urges armament be exclusive to Lebanese state from Beirut
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PA President Mahmoud Abbas highlighted refugee conditions and security coordination in a key meeting with Palestinian groups in the Lebanese capital.
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, centre, leaves after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, left background, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 22, 2025 (AP)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with representatives of Palestinian factions in Lebanon on Friday, as part of his official three-day visit to the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
During the meeting at his residence, Abbas emphasized the "importance of achieving national unity based on the commitment to the Palestine Liberation Organization, its political program, international obligations, and the principle of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon."
The PA president also addressed the work of the Palestinian-Lebanese joint committee, which was established to improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Abbas affirmed that this cooperation would proceed "while respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and abiding by its laws."
'Armament exclusive to Lebanese state'
In a pointed message, Abbas underscored the "need to uphold the principle of exclusive possession of weapons by the Lebanese state across all its territory, ending all violations of this standard, and ensuring Lebanon's security and stability."
He added that enhanced coordination and cooperation serve the best interests of both the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.
Furthermore, the PA president reaffirmed the significance of continuing political and legal action on the international stage, highlighting the importance of the upcoming international peace conference scheduled to be held in New York next month. The conference, he said, aims to realize the two-state solution grounded in international legitimacy.
Abbas wants Hamas to handover arms
Abbas, in late April, 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 the Palestinian Resistance movement 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 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."
