No role for Hamas in post-war Gaza, says Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that preparations are underway to hold parliamentary and presidential elections within a year of the end of the war.

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His announcement came as he met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in London today, Monday.

Conditions for a New Election

In a message to the international conference presidency in New York, Abbas stated that any party or candidate wishing to participate in the elections must commit to the political program and international obligations of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), as well as to the principle of "one authority, one law, and one legitimate security force."

He reiterated that these measures are part of the State of Palestine's goal to establish an unarmed state.

Abbas also stated that after the war ends in Gaza, Hamas will have to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority and that Hamas will have no governing role after the war.

Meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary

During his meeting with Foreign Secretary Cooper, Abbas expressed his appreciation for the British government's positions, particularly its efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire, ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and reject settlements and settler violence.

He also praised the UK's historic decision to announce its intention to recognize a Palestinian state before a peace conference in New York later this month, describing it as a "corrective step" to a "historic injustice."