Palestinian leaders blame Hamas for war with Israel

The criticism from Fatah, which also includes swipes at Hamas leadership living lavishly in Qatar and the group’s ties to Iran, comes after Hamas denounced the appointment of new Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, according to the Jerusalem Post. 

“Did Hamas consult the Palestinian leadership or any Palestinian national party when it made its decision to carry out the ‘adventure’ of last October 7, which led to a catastrophe more horrific and crueler than the Nakba of 1948?” the West Bank-based political party was quoted as saying. 

Fatah reportedly added that Mustafa is “is armed with the national agenda and not with false agendas that have brought nothing but woes to the Palestinian people and have not achieved anything for them,” and asked if Hamas would rather “appoint a prime minister from Iran, or let Tehran appoint a prime minister for the Palestinians.” 

Fatah also said, “It seems that the comfortable life that this [Hamas] leadership lives in seven-star hotels has blinded it from what is right,” and questioned why they would reside outside of the Gaza Strip while Palestinians face a “brutal war of extermination.” 

Hamas, following the appointment of Mustafa on Thursday, argued it was an “individual decision” that creates a “deepening of division at a pivotal historic moment,” the Post reported. 

Hamas reportedly called for a unified leadership and “free, democratic elections.”