Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for Hamas to be disarmed and stripped of its control over the Gaza Strip, advocating for the group's military capabilities to be handed over to Palestinian security forces. In letters to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abbas also publicly condemned for the first time Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, calling its actions "unacceptable" and demanding the immediate release of all hostages. The move highlights the growing rift between the Palestinian Authority's leadership and Hamas, as well as Abbas's desire to strengthen his position on the international stage.

In his address to world leaders, Abbas said Hamas should not maintain power in the Gaza Strip and that its armed groups must hand over their weapons to official Palestinian control. "Hamas can no longer rule Gaza and its military capabilities must be handed over to the security forces of the Palestinian Authority," The Times of Israel quotes Abbas as saying in his letter. The statement was part of a broader critique the president has leveled at Hamas, accusing the group of undermining Palestinian unity and provoking an escalation of the conflict with Israel. Abbas also stressed that the October 7 attack, which killed and took Israeli civilians hostage, deserves the strongest condemnation. "Such violence is unacceptable and Hamas must immediately release all prisoners," he said.

Abbas has previously avoided directly condemning Hamas' actions, limiting himself to calls for the release of hostages, which Reuters analysts say was an attempt to maintain a delicate balance in internal Palestinian politics. However, in recent months, his rhetoric has hardened. According to Al Jazeera, in 2024, Abbas repeatedly accused Hamas of monopolizing power in Gaza and hindering efforts to achieve national reconciliation. His current statement, made in letters to Macron and bin Salman, reflects a desire to secure support from international players at a time when the Palestinian Authority's influence over the situation in Gaza remains limited.