• Palestinian President Abbas urges Hamas to release hostages to reduce Israeli military actions.
• Abbas labels Hamas as responsible for justifying Israeli attacks due to ongoing hostage situations.
• Hamas condemns Abbas's remarks as "insulting" and indicative of a deeper political rift.
• Israeli military actions have resulted in significant casualties in Gaza since the escalation resumed.
• Tensions between Palestinian factions continue to undermine unity and negotiation efforts.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has publicly called for Hamas to release the hostages still held in Gaza, stating that this is the main factor fueling escalating Israeli attacks against the territory. Abbas, speaking at a meeting in Ramallah, noted, "Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip," emphasizing that “I’m the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel” according to Middle East Eye, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

In his statements, Abbas referenced the ongoing suffering caused by the hostage situation, underscoring the urgency of releasing captives. He specifically criticized the group's reluctance to hand over hostages, stating that their continued captivity contributes to the high number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israeli military actions. Reports have indicated that over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since attacking resumed in October 2023, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis engulfing the area, as noted by Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

Hamas has reacted strongly to Abbas's comments, with senior official Bassem Naim condemning the language used by the president as "insulting" to Palestinians. He argued that Abbas's remarks unjustly placed blame on Hamas for the ongoing violence and accused him of cooperating with Israeli narratives. This incident underscores the long-standing political and ideological schisms between Abbas's Fatah party and Hamas, which have persisted for nearly two decades, as highlighted by Middle East Eye, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

Amidst these tensions, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire continue to stall, with representations from Hamas reportedly engaged in discussions in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The recent military escalation and ongoing violence raise critical questions regarding humanitarian assistance and mobilization of international support for the residents of Gaza, according to Middle East Eye and Le Monde.