Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

The possibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) becoming the umbrella for designated terrorist organizations is becoming more real.

On Tuesday, Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported that senior Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub declared that there is nothing standing in the way of unity between Fatah and Hamas, since Hamas’ atrocities of October 7th elevated it to the level of a national liberation movement like Fatah.

This declaration came on the heels of many similar statements by PA/Fatah leaders — both in support of unity with terror organizations, and explicit calls for terror.

Top Fatah official Abbas Zaki recently stressed this, stating that Fatah is “one unit” together with terror organizations Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and “every fighting faction” — in other words, anyone who carries out terror against Israel:

Al-Mayadeen TV host: “The meetings in Cairo between the Fatah Movement and Hamas Movement … The headline of these meetings is establishing a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip. Will this round of meetings be different?” …

Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “Our delegation is setting out [to Cairo] with clearest understandings that it is impossible to take action for the Gaza Strip except with mutual agreement and understanding with the brothers in Hamas” …

There is no Palestinian disagreement now that people could exploit. We, Hamas, [Islamic] Jihad, and every fighting faction constitute one unit.” [emphasis added]

[Al-Mayadeen TV (Lebanon), YouTube channel, Nov. 2, 2024]

A Jordanian journalist interviewed on official PA TV was even more explicit, demonizing Israel as “a satanic plant,” that should be attacked “with rocks, knives, and resistance by all means” — in other words, terror:

Jordanian journalist Ramadan Rawashdeh: “The [pro-Palestinian] noble-hearted in Britain and the world knew that [Israel] is a satanic plant in the region, which is not like us [Arabs] in terms of language, skin color, ethnicity, or customs …

Many invaders have come into this region and they were defeated. I am convinced that one day Israel will necessarily be defeated… [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu said: ‘I will bring security to Israel.’ We need to bring about his failure with daily work, with rocks, knives, resistance – resistance by all means.” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV, Capital of Capitals – Amman, Nov. 14, 2024]

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “The Palestinian people has no choice but to remain, stand firm, hold onto the land and the right, and resist with all possible capabilities at our disposal.

The occupation (i.e., Israel) and the aggression have left us no choice but to remain or die.” [emphasis added]

[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, Oct. 8, 2024]

The same message was echoed by another Fatah official who, when reminiscing about former PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, stressed that Fatah “will continue to hold onto the weapon” as did Arafat:

Fatah Nablus Branch Secretary Muhammad Hamdan: “We see in [the exhibit’s] pictures how [former PLO Chairman Arafat’s] voice echoes in the UN (refers to Arafat’s 1974 UN speech), how he reminds us and says: ‘I have come bearing a freedom fighter’s gun and an olive branch. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.’

This is what clarifies that we will continue to draw the weapon until we receive all our national rights.” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV, Nov. 17, 2024]

PMW has documented Abbas Zaki’s pride in Fatah terror against Israel during the current Gaza war:

Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “People [in the world] were shocked by the heroic [Palestinian] stand … The entire NATO alliance and all the capabilities of the West, and with them the mercenaries and collaborators [with Israel], did not succeed in silencing the fighters’ rifles and rockets … I think that ‘the Al-Aqsa Flood’ [Hamas’ name for its October 7 attack] will yet be taught at universities.” [emphasis added]

[Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Facebook page, June 2, 2024]

Palestine Today TV host: “The severity [of the situation] concerning the Al-Aqsa Mosque, does it not require that the resistance (i.e., terror) be activated more and more in the West Bank, and that its chained hands be released? Let us say it frankly: Due to what the PA is doing to prevent any expression of the resistance … How can this tradition [of armed struggle] be preserved, and Fatah’s identity of resistance [too], which the Palestinian people has known since the first bullet?”

Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “Is there recognition by the forces in Gaza that [Fatah’s] Al-Aqsa Brigades are [among them]?”

Host: “Yes.”

Abbas Zaki: “Then here is Fatah. In the West Bank, it was forbidden to carry a knife [before the 1993 Oslo Accords], now there are fighters there.” [emphasis added]

[Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Facebook page, June 2, 2024]

The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.