Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for the Gaza Strip and is ready to fulfill its duties "as soon as the aggression against our people stops." In an interview with "Asharq Al-Awsat," he stated, "We have been and remain responsible for Gaza and will continue to be." He added that the "Al-Aqsa Flood" attack was a surprise to everyone, "no one expected it," and reaffirmed the Palestinian Authority's intention to cooperate with all Arab, regional, and international parties "to prevent a new catastrophe for the Palestinian people."
Abbas described Saudi Arabia's positions on the Palestinian issue as "historic, honorable, genuine, and steadfast," highlighting the Saudi statement that emphasized the priority of recognizing the Palestinian state over any comprehensive peace and normalization, "especially in these dangerous circumstances that the region and the world are going through."
He considered that the Biden administration has not exerted "real and serious pressure" on the Israeli government to solidify a political solution leading to an independent Palestinian state. He pointed out the absence of an "Israeli partner," as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become an "obstacle" to the peace process.
Abbas viewed the issue of forming a new government as an internal Palestinian matter, stating, "We have paid dearly to protect the independent Palestinian decision, and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it or attempt to control it."
