“Hamas is not connected to the Palestinian people’s interests” - PA Chairman Abbas’ advisor criticizes Hamas

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “Hamas is actually not connected to the Palestinian agenda and is not connected to the Palestinian people’s interests. Hamas is connected to its mother, and its mother is the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas is expressing the Muslim Brotherhood’s interests, and not the Palestinian people’s interests... They have said this openly, when one of them asked the Hamas masses in the Gaza Strip to swear allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood.”

[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, May 6, 2024]

Mahmoud Al-Habbash also serves as Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice. In August 2019, PA Chairman Abbas dismissed all his advisors by Presidential decree. It is unclear what their status is today.