The Jerusalem Post reports: “Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signaled to the United States that the PA should be included in the negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire and the return of hostages held in Hamas captivity, according to a report by N12 on Thursday.

Abbas, with support from Saudi Arabia, stated that the PA needs to be at the negotiating table to discuss long-term security arrangements, particularly given that the PA could take control of, or hold, part of the enclave, N12 added.

The US has not responded to Abbas’s request, the report noted.

However, the US is expected to tell Abbas that they will try to include him and the PA in discussions, the report assessed.

Previously, Abbas stressed that ‘Hamas must end its control of the Gaza Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,’ adding that the ‘war must end,’ citing that hundreds are dying every day because ‘[Hamas] doesn’t want to hand over the American hostages. Sons of dogs – hand over the hostages and end the matter,’ he said in a televised speech at the PA’s Central Council on April 23…”