Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the "only viable solution" in Gaza is "a complete Israeli withdrawal and the empowerment of the Palestinian state" to assume its responsibilities in the Strip "with effective Arab and international support," stressing that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) "will not rule" the Strip.
This came during his meeting - at his residence in the Jordanian capital, Amman - with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair , according to what was reported by the official Palestinian news agency (WAFA).
During the meeting, Abbas discussed with Blair "the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, and the ongoing political and humanitarian developments."
Abbas stressed "the need to reach an immediate ceasefire, release all (Israeli) hostages and (Palestinian) prisoners, and ensure the unhindered entry of urgent humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip."
He also pointed out that "Hamas will not rule the Gaza Strip the next day."
The Palestinian Authority president said that Hamas must "hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority and engage in political activity by adhering to the PLO's political program, its international program, international legitimacy, and the principles of one system, one law, and one legitimate weapon."
The Palestinian arena has been politically and geographically divided since 2007, with Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip, while the West Bank is governed by governments formed by Abbas's Fatah movement.
Abbas stressed the "need to halt all unilateral measures, foremost among them settlement expansion, reject annexation (of the West Bank), and halt repeated attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites."
He also stressed the importance of launching a serious political process to implement the two-state solution, based on international legitimacy resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and by holding an international peace conference in New York.
For days, the Qatari capital, Doha, has been witnessing a new round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israeli delegations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, and with US participation, with the aim of reaching a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange.
