• Mahmoud Abbas calls on Hamas to disarm and hand over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
• Abbas criticizes the October 7 Hamas attack for provoking Israeli military retaliation.
• The Palestinian Authority is facing pressure to reform and establish a viable peace role.
• Humanitarian crises in Gaza continue amidst ongoing conflict and military actions.
• International leaders urge Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas on April 23 to lay down its arms and transfer control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA). This request is part of an effort to address international concerns about the PA's role during this critical time for the region. Abbas asserted, "Hamas must hand over (its) Gaza responsibilities and hand over its arms to the Palestinian Authority and transform into a political party," during his speech at a leadership council meeting in Ramallah, where he is also expected to name a successor.

Abbas has notably criticized the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in significant Israeli military retaliation that has since claimed over 50,000 lives in Gaza, according to local authorities. Abbas stated that the attack provided "Israel with a pretext to destroy Gaza" and demanded the release of all Israeli captives held by Hamas, blaming them for giving Israel excuses to carry out its military operations in the territory, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Dawn.

The ongoing conflict has pressured Abbas, aged 89, to consider a successor as Western and Arab nations seek to ensure the PA maintains a relevant role in peace efforts. Diplomatic plans have generally aimed to exclude Hamas; however, Israel has rejected any governance role for the PA, limiting its authority to the West Bank. Abbas is expected to name a successor this week, a move advocated by international allies who stress the necessity for PA reform and a coordinated approach to Gaza's governance, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Dawn.

Throughout this escalation in violence, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have significantly deteriorated. With Israel continuing its military campaigns, calls from international leaders, including Britain, France, and Germany, emphasize the urgent need for Israel to lift the blockade on humanitarian aid. The foreign ministers of these nations warned of "an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death" due to the ongoing humanitarian crises, reminding that civilian access to aid must be prioritized, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Dawn.