Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has made a heartfelt appeal to Hamas, urging the release of all hostages. He expressed concern that their continued captivity provides Israel with “excuses” to intensify its attacks on Gaza. This statement comes as rescuers recover charred bodies from a recent Israeli airstrike, underscoring the severe human toll of the ongoing conflict.
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The situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israeli strikes resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals across the territory. Meanwhile, leaders from Germany, France, and Britain have urged Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid entering the region, as the need for assistance grows critically urgent.
Since resuming military operations on March 18, Israel has ended a temporary ceasefire that had allowed for the release of 33 hostages from Gaza and about 1,800 Palestinians from Israeli jails. Unfortunately, discussions for a new ceasefire have not yielded any positive results, as a Hamas delegation currently engages in renewed talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo.
During his remarks, President Abbas poignantly stated, “I’m the one paying the price; our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over.” He further emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “Every day there are deaths. Why? Because they (Hamas) refuse to hand over the American hostage,” referring specifically to Edan Alexander—a name reportedly on the list of hostages requested by Israel but recently denied by Hamas.
In a moment of frustration, Abbas invoked a strong Arabic epithet directed at Hamas, demanding, “You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this ordeal.” In response, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim characterized Abbas’s remarks as “insulting,” asserting that Abbas “repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people.”
Amidst these tensions, Hamas’s Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades released footage purportedly showing an Israeli hostage alive in a Gaza tunnel, with the individual identifying himself as 48-year-old Omri Miran.
The relationship between Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas continues to be fraught with tension, characterized by deep political and ideological rifts that have persisted for almost two decades. Abbas and the Palestinian Authority frequently accuse Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity, while Hamas criticizes Abbas for alleged collaboration with Israel and suppression of dissent in the West Bank.
At a recent leadership council meeting, Abbas is expected to announce a successor, amid mounting pressure from Western and Arab entities concerned about the future of the Palestinian Authority’s role in peace negotiations.
Death Toll and Devastation
The humanitarian crisis has intensified, as at least 11 individuals were killed in an Israeli strike on a school in Gaza, a facility that had been transformed into a shelter for the displaced. Rescue workers reported a devastating scene, stating, “The bombing sparked a massive blaze, and several charred bodies have since been recovered,” according to civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal.
Witnesses have described the harrowing aftermath, with an AFP reporter observing numerous bodies draped in white shrouds at the Al-Shifa hospital’s morgue—where grieving families mourned the loss of their loved ones, including children. Resident Walid al-Najjar voiced the common sentiment, saying, “We want nothing more than for the war to end, so we can live like people in the rest of the world. We are a people who are poor, devastated—our lives are lost.”
Tens of thousands of Gazans, having fled their homes since the war began following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, have sought refuge in schools. Aid organizations estimate that a substantial majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have experienced displacement at least once. “We lack the necessary tools and equipment to carry out effective rescue operations or recover the bodies of martyrs,” Mr. Bassal lamented.
As Israel’s military campaign continues, reports indicate that approximately 1,928 people have been killed in Gaza since operations resumed, bringing the total death toll to at least 51,305, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The war’s onset, marked by Hamas’s attack on Israel, resulted in 1,218 fatalities on the Israeli side, predominantly civilians, according to figures compiled by AFP based on Israeli reports.
In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, Germany, France, and Britain have called on Israel to halt its blockade of aid entering Gaza, warning of an “acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death.” Their foreign ministers issued a joint statement urging, “We urge Israel to immediately restart a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians.”
By prioritizing dialogue and humanitarian aid, perhaps there is still a pathway to peace amidst the shadows of conflict.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
