Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called for the overthrow of Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers. "We have to bring down this bunch that took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people," Abbas said in a speech in Ramallah.
According to the AP, Abbas denounced what he called "criminal acts by lawless gangs in Gaza where they opened fire in cold blood on crowds commemorating the third anniversary of the death of the martyr Yasser Arafat." Eight people died in Gaza City on Monday when Hamas police opened fire as demonstrators dispersed after a mass rally to remember the late Palestinian leader.
The Palestinian leader also denounced mass arrests by Hamas after the demonstration, saying they showed "the confusion and isolation of the Islamists in the Gaza Strip." Speaking ahead of a planned peace meeting in the United States later this month, Abbas also used his address to reach out to Israel, calling for a real and lasting peace.
"I address the Israeli people and government directly and say that we are determined to agree a real peace with them in the interests of both our future generations," he said.
"The occupation brings security to nobody. Peace and good neighbourly relations based on equality and respect will bring an end to decades of war, suffering and the spilling of blood," he added.
Abbas said that the expected peace meeting at Annapolis in Maryland must mark "a serious and decisive departure point to arrive at a just settlement that would guarantee the rights of our people, who aspire to liberty and independence."
"Our people are determined to create their own state which, with the grace of God, will one day see our terrirtory with Jerusalem as its capital."
According to him, colonisation of the West Bank by Jewish settlers "must cease completely, the siege must be lifted, prisoners must be allowed home and the cycle of violence and assassinations must become a thing of the past." "We are capable of building our state alongside Israel for it to become a haven of peace and stability," Abbas said.
