Abbas says Hamas does not represent Palestinians
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency WAFA. In a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Abbas also called the Palestine Liberation Organisation 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. Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for Hamas to release hostages without conditions and for Israel to allow rapid and unimpeded humanitarian aid access to the Palestinian Gaza Strip. "Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it's the right thing to do," Guterres said in a statement. (Reuters)