US attacks Abbas for undermining Gaza truce efforts

The Trump administration yesterday attacked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the Palestinian Authority (PA) leader’s opposition to efforts at reaching a truce between Israel and Hamas in the occupied Gaza Strip.

The statement from US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt came just hours after Abbas had spoken on the phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

“The Trump Administration strongly supports the efforts of President Al-Sisi and the Egyptian government to help facilitate an agreement to restore calm in Gaza and bring about the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza,” said Greenblatt.

“The Palestinian Authority cannot criticise from the sidelines,” the statement continued. “The Palestinian Authority should be part of the solution for the Palestinians of Gaza and Palestinians as a whole,” adding: “If not, others will fill that void.”

Read: Seeking ‘humanity’ in the Gaza truce agreement

Though he did not name Abbas specifically, Greenblatt said that “leadership is about making hard choices”, continuing: “It is time for the Palestinian Authority to lead the Palestinian people – all Palestinians – to a better future.”

Greenblatt’s statement was issued the same day as recent remarks by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to American Jewish leaders were leaked, in which Friedman said that an agreement without the PA in Gaza would be a “tremendous reward” for Hamas.