Abbas seeks US approval by punishing Gaza

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent policies against the besieged Gaza Strip are part of his efforts to seek approval from the US, analysts told Arab48 yesterday.

Abbas has recently cut the salaries of Fatah members in Gaza and refused to pay Israel for the Strip’s electricity use.

According to the analysts, Abbas might take further measures such as announcing Gaza a hostile entity or Hamas a “terrorist” organisation, noting that this is to please American President Donald Trump, who does not differentiate between terror and Islam.

Read: Gaza between Abbas’s escalation and Trump’s conditions

Trump is trying to exert efforts to deter Iran in order to please Israel, the sources said.

Abbas’ recent visits to Cairo and Amman, they added, come in line with mobilising Arabic support for the Palestinian demands, which the Trump Administration has ignored, including the two-state solution, dividing Jerusalem and recognising the PA leadership.

However the analysts warned that Abbas should not bet on Trump’s support as his administration looks at the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from one angle only and sees Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Abbas is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on 3 May.