This is an excerpt from Palestine Briefing, Al-Monitor's weekly newsletter covering the big stories of the week in Palestine. To get Palestine Briefing in your inbox, sign up here.
The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah led by President Mahmoud Abbas has continued a policy of cautious nuetrality as it monitors the carnage between Hamas and Israel since Oct. 7. There is no movement, nor any opening to Hamas, and the 87-year old Palestinian leader also has not openly entertained the idea of resigning to allow someone new to lead.
Meanwhile, mistrust between Abbas and Hamas is at an all-time high. Abbas blames Hamas for putting the people of Gaza and the Palestinian cause in a difficult position. That much of the world casts the group as a terror outfit also makes it hard for him to cooperate with the group. Hamas, meanwhile, blames Abbas for doing nothing to fend off the Israelis and their backers in Washington as the war in Gaza approaches its sixth week.
Abbas and his entourage are trying to convey to those around them that his keeping a low profile, maintaining warm relations with the West and respecting international law ultimately preserves Palestinian nationalism.
