Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who lost authority over Gaza three years ago this month in the very bloody Hamas coup, is suddenly asserting responsibility for the 1.5 million Palestinians living there. His nemesis, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, already was way ahead in feeling the world love as European governments, in the wake of the May 31 flotilla clash, joined with the ranks of traditional Hamas backers in the Arab and Islamic worlds in calling for lifting the blockade of Gaza. President Obama, meeting with Abbas, put icing on the Hamas cake by calling the situation in Gaza “unsustainable.”

Abbas walked out of his Oval Office meeting with a presidential announcement of $400 million in aid. Few in the media pointed out that it is not new money, but a recommitment of aid previously promised to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.  How to deliver any American aid, especially in Gaza, and not involve Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization, remains an insurmountable hurdle.

While in Washington, Abbas also dined with a group of prominent American Jews, and reaffirmed Israel’s right to exist.  Problem is the Islamist regime in Gaza doesn’t agree at all with Abbas, and remains just as much of a threat to the Palestinian Authority he heads as it does to Israel.

Only four years ago, after Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian legislative elections, the group was challenged by the Quartet - the U.S., EU, Russian and UN - and Abbas to transition from an international terrorist organization to a bona fide political party. Price of admission to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was for Hamas to recognize Israel, accept all existing Israel-Palestinian agreements and renounce terror.

But that was too much for Hamas because it meant changing the very essence of this radical Islamist organization. To be clear about Hamas intentions, Haniyeh declared in recent days that “May 31 was and will be a turning point,” referring to the flotilla clash with the Israeli Navy. “It marks the beginning of the delegitimization of the Zionist project in our country.” The Hamas leader, for sure, was not speaking only of Gaza.

If the situation in Gaza is “unsustainable,” Hamas must be held accountable by the international community. Hamas is the primary obstacle to peace and reason a blockade was imposed. Lifting the blockade before Hamas reforms will further undermine the Palestinian Authority, despite the goodwill Abbas believes he received from Obama, and empower opponents of Israeli-Palestinian peace.