Abbas Urges Hamas to Free Gaza Hostages as Fresh Israeli Strikes Kill 25

Head of Palestinian Authority says Hamas providing Israel with excuses to attack

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GAZA CITY - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on April 23 urged Hamas to free all hostages, saying that keeping them provided Israel with "excuses" to attack Gaza, as rescuers recovered charred bodies from an Israeli strike.

The latest Israeli attacks killed at least 25 people across the besieged territory, while Germany, France and Britain urged Israel to end its aid blockade.

Israel's military offensive in Gaza resumed on March 18, ending a ceasefire that had largely paused hostilities and saw 33 hostages freed in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.

Talks on a new ceasefire have so far failed, and a Hamas delegation is in Cairo for renewed negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

"Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages," Mr Abbas said in Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

"I'm the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over," said Mr Abbas, adding that there are deaths every day.

"You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this" ordeal, he added, levelling a harsh Arabic epithet at Hamas.