Abbas says Hamas won’t govern Gaza once ceasefire begins

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that Hamas will not be allowed to govern the Gaza Strip in the post-war period, stressing that the group must disarm and commit to the political program of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

“Hamas must hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority and engage in political work under a unified legal system, one authority, one law, and one legitimate weapon,” Abbas said during a meeting with former British Prime Minister and ex-Quartet envoy Tony Blair in Amman, Jordan.

The remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with Abbas reiterating the need for an immediate halt to hostilities, the release of all captives and detainees, and the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

President Abbas emphasized that the only viable solution is a full 'Israeli' withdrawal from Gaza and the empowerment of the Palestinian state to assume full responsibilities in the territory with strong Arab and international support.

He also called for an end to all unilateral 'Israeli' actions, including settlement expansion, annexation attempts, and repeated assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

Abbas renewed his call for a serious political process based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, advocating for the convening of an international peace conference in New York to implement the two-state solution.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue coordination and engagement with relevant parties to end the war and promote regional peace and stability.