RAMALLAH, WEST BANK — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called for the overthrow of Gaza’s Hamas rulers, following the Islamic group’s deadly crackdown on his loyalists in June.
Abbas stopped short of urging an uprising, but he appeared to be trying to capitalize on growing discontent with Hamas in the coastal territory. It was his first explicit demand that Hamas be ousted since the militant group seized power.
Provoking the tough talk was Hamas’ firing on a huge Fatah rally in Gaza City on Monday, killing eight civilians and wounding dozens in Fatah’s strongest show of strength against the Islamists since the Gaza takeover.
“We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people,” Abbas said in a speech.
An aide said the Palestinian leader, who set up a Western-backed government in the West Bank following Gaza’s fall to Hamas, wasn’t calling for a popular revolt against the militant group, rather reacting passionately to the bloodshed in Gaza City.
Despite Abbas’ tough words, he has little influence in Gaza.
Hamas, by contrast, has taken new steps to cement its grip on the territory since the rally, rounding up more than 400 Fatah activists and announcing media restrictions and plans to limit public gatherings.
Hamas condemned Abbas’ comments and accused him of selling out the Palestinian people in peace talks with Israel. A formal relaunching of negotiations is to take place this month at a U.S.-sponsored summit that is also meant to bolster Abbas in his struggle with Hamas.
Five months of Hamas rule and crushing international sanctions have taken a heavy toll on already impoverished Gaza, and the hardship helped drive the Fatah rally, which drew about 250,000 people Monday. Still, the heavily armed, Iranian-backed Hamas remains entrenched.
Gaza militants also are undeterred. According to the Israeli military, they have fired more than 1,200 rockets and mortar shells toward Israel since June.
