Abbas accuses Israel of killing Haniyeh in order to expand Gaza conflict

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas tells Russia’s RIA state news agency that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was intended to prolong the conflict in Gaza and will complicate talks on resolving the crisis.

“There is no doubt that the purpose of Mr. Haniyeh’s assassination is to prolong the war and expand its scope,” RIA cites Abbas as saying. “It will have a negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza.”

Abbas calls the killing “a cowardly act and a dangerous development in Israeli politics.”

“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,” he says.