Abbas accuses Israel of 'genocide' in its Gaza operation

PA President says "this war is not against Hamas or any faction, but against the Palestinian people."

Mahmoud Abbas (photo credit: REUTERS)
Mahmoud Abbas
(photo credit: REUTERS)
 
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel on Wednesday of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians, and said the coming days will be “difficult.”
Abbas, who was speaking after an emergency meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah to discuss the IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, said the Israeli “war” on the Palestinians began in Hebron before moving to Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
“This war is not against Hamas or any faction, but against the Palestinian people,” Abbas said.
“We must have a say about what’s happening and what could happen in the coming days, which will be difficult.”
Abbas said Israel was not only defending itself, but also settlements, “which are its basic project.”
He said that he phoned Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday night and discussed with him the latest developments. Abbas added that he appealed to Sisi to issue a call on all parties to abide by the Egyptian-brokered 2012 truce between Hamas and Israel.
“He assured me that Egypt would carry out this role immediately,” Abbas said, adding that he also talked to the secretary- general of the Arab League about the crisis.
Abbas said the Palestinians were also planning to go to the UN Security Council to halt the Israeli “aggression.”
The PA president reiterated his commitment to the two-state solution on the basis of security and stability for both sides.