Abbas' Advisor Mahmoud Habbash Alludes to Hamas in PA Friday Sermon: They Are Peddling in the People's Suffering and Blood

Mahmoud Habbash, advisor to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, denounced Hamas for "selling illusions" and "peddling in the suffering of the people and even in their blood." Habbash said: "[They say:] Oh Palestinians, go and die, so that I can appear on TV and on other media outlets, and deliver a fierce statement." The Friday sermon was broadcast on the official PA TV channel on April 6, against the backdrop of the Gaza "Return March" clashes.

Mahmoud Habbash: "Look around you, and see what oppression is exercised against us, the Palestinian people. There can be no greater oppression. All the forces of evil and darkness have united against us. Nevertheless, the Palestinian people, who adhere to their rights, are capable of surviving, Allah willing. Let me tell you, dear brothers, sooner or later, the Palestinians will be victorious. They may not have the same weapons as their enemy. They may not have as much money as others. Nevertheless, they shall be victorious. Do you know why? Because they adhere to their rights.

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"You have seen what happened last night. Yesterday, the downtrodden Palestinian people, afflicted with occupation, exercised the most sublime form of democracy and freedom internally, by holding elections for the unions of the lawyers, the engineers, the students, the doctors, and the journalists. Even more splendid than all this is the fact that despite all of the efforts [by Hamas] to distort images and tear up [national] ties, the Palestinian people and elites clearly support the independent national decisions. They support the PLO and the national position, and they do not give the time of day to those who brag about 'sentimental' victories. By God, when you hear their slogans, you think that they are already in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, having liberated it. But then you realize that they are selling illusions, and are peddling in the suffering of the people and even in their blood. They are peddling in the blood and the victims. [They say:] Oh Palestinians, go and die, so that I can appear on TV and on other media outlets, and deliver a fierce statement. Is this your kind of heroism? It no longer fools anyone."