Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to remove “all obstacles” to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, speaking at an African Union summit in Ethiopia. He emphasized that the technocratic committee overseeing Gaza’s governance must operate without interference to ensure the truce succeeds. The appeal comes as both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire since October.
Abbas’s speech, read by Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, highlighted the ongoing challenges in implementing the US-brokered truce that ended hostilities in Gaza. The first phase secured releases of civilian hostages, while the second focuses on military personnel and further prisoner swaps. Abbas stressed that delays and restrictions undermine stability in Gaza and worsen humanitarian conditions.
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Since the ceasefire began, more than 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel has conducted multiple operations to rescue hostages, including Israeli nationals Fernando Simon Marman and Norberto Louis Har in Rafah. These raids, while freeing hostages, also resulted in casualties among militants and civilians, illustrating the fragile security situation.
The ceasefire also involved three prisoner exchange agreements, with Israel releasing nearly 3,985 Palestinians and Hamas returning hundreds of hostages, both dead and alive. Despite these efforts, disputes over exchange numbers and classification of captives have stalled subsequent phases, leaving thousands of Palestinians and several Israeli soldiers still in captivity or awaiting transfer.
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Abbas reiterated that successful implementation of the second phase is critical for stability in Gaza and called on Israel to honor all commitments under the truce. He urged international mediators to ensure compliance and facilitate humanitarian relief, warning that continued obstruction risks further violence and displacement for Gaza’s civilians.