Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas on Wednesday to lay down arms and hand the running of Gaza to his Palestinian Authority, part of efforts to answer international doubts over the authority's role at a key moment for the region.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Hamas in harsh terms and demanded that it release the remaining Israeli hostages. In a fiery Tuesday speech, Abbas called Hamas “sons of dogs” and blamed the organization for the destruction inflicted upon the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday urged the militant group Hamas to release hostages still held in Gaza, calling it the main factor fuelling Israeli attacks on the territory. “Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip,