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===Presidency and PLO leadership===
[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in Palestine 18 January 2011-11.jpeg|thumb|Abbas with Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]], 18 January 2011]]▼
[[File:Foreign Leader Visits (34779880355).jpg|thumb|Abbas with U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] in Washington, D.C., 3 May 2017]]▼
Despite Abbas's call for a peaceful solution, attacks by militant groups continued after his election, in a direct challenge to his authority. The Palestinian [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine]] launched a raid in Gaza on 12 January 2005, that killed one and wounded three Israeli military personnel.<ref name="MFA">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/terrorism/palestinian/pages/suicide%20and%20other%20bombing%20attacks%20in%20israel%20since.aspx |title=Suicide and Other Bombing Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles (Sept 1993) |date=April 2016 |website=[[Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=26 January 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017124625/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/terrorism/palestinian/pages/suicide%20and%20other%20bombing%20attacks%20in%20israel%20since.aspx |archive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref> On 13 January, Palestinians from the [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]], [[Hamas]], and the [[Popular Resistance Committees]] launched a suicide attack on the [[Karni crossing]], killing six Israelis.<ref name=MFA/> As a result, Israel shut down the damaged terminal and broke off relations with Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, stating that Abbas must now show a gesture of peace by attempting to stop such attacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/14/gaza.bombing/ |title=Sharon suspends contacts with Palestinian Authority |date=14 January 2005 |website=CNN |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> Abbas was formally sworn in as the [[President of the Palestinian National Authority]] in a ceremony held on 15 January, in the [[West Bank]] town of [[Ramallah]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4179327.stm |title=PLO demands end to armed attacks |date=16 January 2005 |website=BBC News |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>
On 8 February 2005, Abbas met with Israeli Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] at the [[Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 2005|Sharm el-Sheikh Summit]] to end the [[Second Intifada]], and they both reaffirmed their commitment to the [[Roadmap for peace]] process. Sharon also agreed to release 900 [[Palestinian prisoners in Israel|Palestinian prisoners]] of the 7,500 being held at the time,<ref name=Reinhardtp77>{{cite book |title=The Road Map to Nowhere: Israel/Palestine Since 2003 |first=Tanya |last=Reinhart |author-link=Tanya Reinhart |location=London, UK |publisher=[[Verso Books|Verso]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-84467-076-5 |page=77}}</ref> and to withdraw from West Bank towns.
On 9 August 2005, Abbas announced that [[2006 Palestinian legislative election |legislative elections]], originally scheduled for 17 July 2005, would take place in January 2006. On 20 August, he set the elections for 25 January.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/palestinian-elections-set-for-jan/ |title=Palestinian Elections Set For January |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=20 August 2005 |website=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> On 15 January 2006, Abbas declared that, despite unrest in Gaza, he would not change the election date, unless Israel were to prevent Palestinians in [[East Jerusalem]] from voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/01/2008491414218871.html |title=Abbas: Palestinian polls on schedule |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=15 January 2006 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> The elections took place on 25 January 2006, and resulted in a decisive Hamas victory.
On 16 January 2006, in the context of Fatah's election loss and Hamas' presumed future one party government, Abbas said that he would not run for office again at the end of his term.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4616144.stm |title=Abbas 'will not be leader again' |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=16 January 2006 |website=BBC News |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> However, following international sanctions against a Hamas one party government, political and military conflicts between Hamas and Fatah, and the division of the country, which made new elections impossible, Abbas stayed president after the expiration of his four-year term on 15 January 2009. He extended his term for another year, using another interpretation of the Basic Law and the Election Law, so he could align the [[Next Palestinian general election|next presidential and parliamentary elections]]. Pointing to the Palestinian constitution, Hamas disputed the validity of this move, and considered Abbas's term to have ended, in which case [[Aziz Duwaik|Abdel Aziz Duwaik]], [[Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council]], would have become acting president.<ref name="Abbas-no-longer-president"/><ref name="Hamas: Abbas no longer heads PA"/><ref name="Abu Toameh"/>
On 16 December 2009, the leadership of the [[Palestinian Central Council]] announced an indefinite extension of Abbas's term as president. Since then, Abbas has remained president of the Fatah-controlled areas of the Palestinian territories.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/world/middleeast/17mideast.html |title=Palestinian Leadership Council Extends President Abbas's Term |first=Isabel |last=Kershner |date=17 December 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> In April 2014, Hamas withdrew its objection, in order to form a [[Palestinian Unity Government of June 2014|Unity Government]] with Fatah.<ref name="unity"/>
[[File:P20220715AS-0903 (52325477645).jpg|thumb|Abbas with U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] at the Palestinian Presidential Palace in Bethlehem, 15 July 2022]]▼
Abbas has supported the [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]] as a means of weakening Hamas. In 2010, Abbas declared that he opposed lifting the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip because this would bolster Hamas. Egypt also supported this position.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-to-obama-i-m-against-lifting-the-gaza-naval-blockade-1.295771 ''Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227101816/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-to-obama-i-m-against-lifting-the-gaza-naval-blockade-1.295771 |date=27 February 2014 }}. Barak Ravid, Haaretz, 13 June 2010</ref> In 2014 and subsequent years, Abbas supported Egypt's crackdown on [[Gaza Strip smuggling tunnels |smuggling tunnels]] and welcomed the flooding of the tunnels by Egypt in coordination with the PA.<ref name=aljazeera1214>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/12/abbas-supports-egypt-action-gaza-tunnels-2014121265210713278.html ''Abbas 'supports' Egypt action on Gaza tunnels''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307111953/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/12/abbas-supports-egypt-action-gaza-tunnels-2014121265210713278.html |date=7 March 2016 }}. Al Jazeera, 12 December 2014</ref><ref name=memo_tunnels_flooded>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/21303-sisi-says-gaza-tunnels-flooded-in-coordination-with-pa ''Sisi says Gaza tunnels flooded in coordination with PA''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105614/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/21303-sisi-says-gaza-tunnels-flooded-in-coordination-with-pa |date=4 March 2016 }}. MEMO, 28 September 2015</ref><ref name=haaretz_abbas>[https://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/.premium-1.629397 ''Abbas: Egypt Right to Create Buffer Zone on Gaza Border''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820105818/https://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/.premium-1.629397 |date=20 August 2015 }}. Jack Khoury, Haaretz, 1 December 2014 (premium).<br />"Abbas believed the destruction of the tunnels was the best solution. The Palestinian president said he had recommended previously the sealing or destruction of the tunnels by flooding them and then punishing the owners of the homes that contained entrances to the tunnels, including demolishing their homes."</ref> In 2016, Abbas objected to the entrance of Qatari fuel to the Gaza electricity plant via Israel, because his PA would be unable to collect taxes on the fuel.<ref>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/23968-yaalon-abbas-objected-to-qatari-fuel-entering-gaza-through-ashdod ''Ya'alon: Abbas objected to Qatari fuel entering Gaza through Ashdod''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307124216/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/23968-yaalon-abbas-objected-to-qatari-fuel-entering-gaza-through-ashdod |date=7 March 2016 }}. MEMO, 17 February 2016</ref>
On 31 December 2014, Abbas signed an application for Palestine to join the [[International Criminal Court]],<ref name="FP_ICC">{{cite web |last1=Hatuqa |first1=Dalia |title=How Long Can Mahmoud Abbas Hold On? |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/16/can-mahmoud-abbas-hold-on-palestinian-successor-icc/ |website=Foreign Policy |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref> just one day after the UN Security Council voted against a resolution demanding the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and statehood for Palestine by 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beaumont |first1=Peter |title=US and Israeli intervention led UN to reject Palestinian resolution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/31/us-israel-un-reject-palestinian-resolution-nigeria-security-council |website=The Guardian |date=31 December 2014 |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref> The threat of joining the ICC and suing Israel for war crimes had been considered by Palestinian officials for years prior, but the move was seen as a diplomatic "last resort." The decision came as Abbas's administration dealt with allegations of corruption and mismanagement, potential political challenges from rival parties and other Fatah members, and low approval ratings.<ref name="FP_ICC"></ref>
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In 2021, [[2021 Palestinian local elections|local elections in Palestine]] were held amidst a rift between Abbas and [[Hamas]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ayyub|first1=Rami|last2=Sawafta|first2=Ali|date=11 December 2021|title=Palestinians vote in local elections amid rising anger with Abbas|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinians-vote-local-elections-amid-rising-anger-with-abbas-2021-12-11/|access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref> This was after he had indefinitely postponed the [[Next Palestinian presidential election|presidential election]] and [[Next Palestinian legislative election|parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 December 2021|title=Some 400,000 Palestinians vote in rare municipal elections|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/palestinians-mahmoud-abbas-west-bank-hamas-palestinian-authority-b1974278.html|access-date=14 December 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>
During the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]], Abbas rejected "practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law."<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinian President Abbas condemns violence against civilians |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-president-says-he-rejects-killing-civilians-both-sides-conflict-2023-10-12/ |work=Reuters |date=12 October 2023}}</ref> He called for the "release of civilians, prisoners and detainees" and expressed concern about the consequences of Israel's [[October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip|total blockade of the Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinian President Abbas condemns violence against civilians |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/palestinian-president-abbas-condemns-violence-against-civilians |work=The Straits Times |date=12 October 2023}}</ref> Abbas declared three days of mourning following the [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion]] and canceled a planned meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Ibrahim|first1=Arwa|last2=Siddiqui|first2=Usaid|last3=Mohamed |first3=Edna |last4=Hatuqa |first4=Dalia |last5=Stepansky |first5=Joseph |title=Hundreds of casualties as Israel hits Gaza hospital sheltering thousands|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/10/16/israel-hamas-war-live-iran-warns-resistance-front-may-attack |date=17 October 2023 |website=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] |language=en}}</ref> In February 2024, he called the [[Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident]] an "ugly massacre" that was perpetrated by the "Israeli occupation army."<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 February 2024 |title=Dozens killed waiting for aid in Gaza as overall death toll passes 30,000, Hamas-run health ministry says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/29/dozens-killed-waiting-for-aid-in-gaza-as-overall-death-toll-passes-30000-hamas-run-health-ministry-says.html |work=[[CNBC]] |language=en |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229190610/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/29/dozens-killed-waiting-for-aid-in-gaza-as-overall-death-toll-passes-30000-hamas-run-health-ministry-says.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
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==Political relations==
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