Senior PA Official: "Hamas Should Apologize to Gaza's Residents"
According to Ma'an news agency, the official stated, "The malicious plan against the West Bank, conceived by racists and settlers in the Israeli right-wing government, is ready and awaits any (Palestinian) mistake to launch a devastating attack on the cities, villages, and refugee camps of the West Bank."
He further asserted that it is the "historic duty" of the PA and the PLO to understand the gravity of the situation and avoid actions that would bring destruction to Palestinian homes and communities.
The senior official accused Hamas and some media outlets of causing the "disaster" in Gaza. While Hamas is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, it is, in the official’s view, irresponsibly pushing to replicate the Gaza experience in Judea and Samaria—actions he described as lacking national conscience.
He also remarked that Hamas, unwilling to apologize for its role in Gaza, continues to drag the West Bank into further conflict. The official criticized Hamas for undermining the resilience of the Palestinian people and gambling with their resources under the guise of struggle and resistance.
The official reiterated that the PA's clear priority is to defend Jenin, safeguard the West Bank, and prevent destruction, while avoiding giving Israel any justification to escalate the situation.
These remarks come in response to criticism from Hamas and other Palestinian factions over the PA's efforts to assert control over the Jenin refugee camp. The PA’s security forces have been cracking down on Hamas members in Area A of Judea and Samaria, where the PA holds security responsibility. Tensions between Hamas and Fatah, the political faction led by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, have existed since Hamas seized control of Gaza from Fatah in 2007.
