PA's Response to Oct. 7 Evolved From Celebration to Blame
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
A report details the Palestinian Authority's evolving response to the October 7th Hamas massacre, moving from initial celebration and justification as self-defense to blaming Israel. PA leaders like Jibril Rajoub and Mahmoud Abbas initially praised the attacks, while religious advisors legitimized them. Later, criticism focused on Gaza's destruction, and conspiracy theories emerged blaming Israel for enabling the massacre. The report highlights widespread public and school support for the attacks and calls for international recognition of a Palestinian state to be suspended until the PA condemns the atrocities.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- PA's response to Oct. 7 evolved from celebration to blaming Israel, according to a report.
- PA leadership initially celebrated the massacre as 'heroic and epic acts' and 'victory.'
- The PA sought to legitimize the attacks as 'legitimate and holy self-defense.'
- Criticism of Hamas focused on Gaza's destruction, not the massacre itself.
- PA officials and media promoted conspiracy theories blaming Israel for the attacks.
- Palestinian schools held ceremonies praising the Oct. 7 massacre, report claims.
- Report urges suspension of recognition for a Palestinian state until PA condemns Oct. 7.
The Palestinian Authority's (PA) reaction to Hamas's October 7th massacre has progressed through four distinct stages, beginning with widespread celebration and culminating in blaming Israel, according to a report by "Palestine Media Watch." Initially, PA leadership, public, and educational institutions expressed joy and pride. Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub described the atrocities as "heroic and epic acts," while PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas reportedly called it "the greatest day in the history of the Palestinian people" in private. Fatah officials on official PA media celebrated a "morning of victory, pride, and joy."
Subsequently, the PA leadership sought to legitimize the attacks as "self-defense." Mahmoud al-Habbash, Abbas's religious advisor, repeatedly stated the October 7th events were "legitimate and holy self-defense" under international and Islamic law. The PA's Ministry of Waqf instructed imams to recite a Hadith calling for war against Jews, and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh framed the events as a "natural result" of Israeli policy.
As fighting in Gaza intensified, some internal criticism of Hamas emerged, but it focused solely on the high Palestinian death toll and destruction, not the massacre itself. Abbas commented that the destruction in Gaza outweighed the "achievements" of the October 7th attack, which he acknowledged "shook the foundations of the Israeli entity." Other Fatah officials indicated they would have supported the operation even with a much higher casualty count if it had led to liberation from the "occupation."
Finally, the PA began promoting conspiracy theories, with senior officials and media commentators suggesting Israel orchestrated or enabled the October 7th attacks to create a pretext for destroying Gaza and committing "genocide." This narrative has been echoed in Palestinian public life and schools, where students have recited poems praising the massacre and calling Hamas terrorists "lions." Polls indicate significant Palestinian support for the October 7th attacks, with 83% in the West Bank in 2023 and 59% in late 2025 supporting the decision to carry out the massacre. The report concludes that serious discussion of a "reformed" PA is impossible without Abbas unequivocally condemning the October 7th atrocities and dismissing officials who praised them. It also urges countries like France, whose President Emmanuel Macron recognized a Palestinian state based on a mistaken belief that Abbas had condemned the attacks, to suspend such recognition until the PA denounces the violence.
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