---
title: "President Abbas says Hamas' actions do not represent Palestinians"
description: "Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency Wafa."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "MIDDLE EAST CRISIS"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-16-president-abbas-says-hamas-actions-do-not-represent-palestinians/"
published: "2023-10-16T04:00:54"
updated: "2023-10-16T03:04:09"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 70
---

# President Abbas says Hamas' actions do not represent Palestinians

> Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency Wafa.

By Reuters · Published 16 October 2023, 06:00 SAST · Updated 16 October 2023, 05:04 SAST

## Content

In a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Abbas also called the Palestine Liberation Organization the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people”, Wafa said.

"The president affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides, and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees on both sides," added the news agency.

*(Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Deepa Babington and Lisa Shumaker.)*