Ismail Haniyeh's death will prolong Israel's war in Gaza, Mahmoud Abbas says
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemns the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as a move to extend the Gaza conflict and hinder peace negotiations.
The killing of terror group Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was intended to prolong the conflict in Gaza. It will complicate talks on resolving the crisis, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Russia's RIA state news agency in remarks published on Tuesday.
"There is no doubt that the purpose of Mr. Haniyeh's assassination is to prolong the war and expand its scope," RIA cited Abbas as saying.
"It will have a negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza."
Intensifying the conflict
Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, last week, an attack that drew threats of revenge on Israel and fueled concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.
"We consider this a cowardly act and a dangerous development in Israeli politics," Abbas said in remarks published in Russian by the RIA agency.
"The Israeli occupation authorities are required to abandon their ambitions and stop their aggressive actions against our people and our cause, to comply with international law and implement the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as an immediate and lasting ceasefire and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also told RIA that the Gaza Strip must be transferred to the control of legitimate Palestinian authorities, and Israeli plans for temporary control of the enclave are unacceptable.
"Gaza must be governed under the auspices of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and the legitimate Palestinian government," Abbas added.
"We strongly oppose Israeli plans that provide for some temporary solutions."
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