Palestinian President: We May Be Forced to Take New Course of Action to Counter Israeli Practices

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Getty Images)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Getty Images)
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Palestinian President: We May Be Forced to Take New Course of Action to Counter Israeli Practices

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Getty Images)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Getty Images)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Monday that Israel’s continued undermining of the two-state solution and its apartheid regime will force the Palestinian Authority to take different and important decisions next year.

“We reiterate our absolute rejection of the continuation of the Israel's occupation of the land of the State of Palestine, and of racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people,” Abbas said in a televised speech at the conference on "Self-Liberation of the Palestinians: Producing Resistance Knowledge".

Abbas said the PA is still reaching out to achieve a just and comprehensive peace according to the two-state solution and international resolutions and under the auspices of the International Quartet.

However, he warned that Israel's ongoing undermining of the two-state solution and its apartheid practices "will force us to resort to other options if the occupation does not reverse its actions."

"We may be forced to take important decisions which we will discuss in the next PLO Central Council meeting, which will be held early next year."

The PLO Central Council is expected to hold a meeting next January to place a work plan for the initiative that Abbas launched last September at the UN, where he called on the Secretary-General to convene an international peace conference.

Abbas’ threats come amid growing frustration with the US administration’s slow approach in supporting political efforts aimed at ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.



Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages' handover ceremonies are "humiliating" was false and a pretext to evade Israel's obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu's decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations," Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Israel said earlier it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Netanyahu's office released a statement in the early hours of Sunday saying that Israel was waiting to deliver the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees "until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies."

According to Reuters, Hamas' El Rashq said the ceremonies do not include any insult to the hostages, "but rather reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them,” adding that the "real insult" is what the Palestinian prisoners are subjected to during the release process.

The Palestinian militant group official cited the hands' tying of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees and their blindfolding and threatening them not to hold any celebrations for their release as examples of their humiliation at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Hamas has made hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they were handed over. Coffins with hostage remains have also been carried through crowds.

Israel's announcement, which also accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, came after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as part of an exchange arranged under the truce.