Hamas Chief Signals Change of Direction: No Need for Factions to Reconcile

The number one man in the Gaza Strip for the Hamas terrorist organization appears to be giving up on reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas factions, but believes it’s not necessary for “calm” to come to the region. Notable was that Yahya Sinwar’s comments were first and foremost directed at his Fatah opponents rather than at Israel. His concern was a series of sanctions the Fatah-linked Palestinian Authority has slapped on the Gaza Strip, prompting Hamas charges of collusion with Israel and disregard for the humanitarian crises affecting the Palestinian people. Egyptian officials are simultaneously negotiating agreements that will provide “calm” between both Fatah and Hamas; and Hamas and Israel. On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman told a teleconference that peace demands a single Palestinian government, quashing the circulating speculation that a West Bank and Gaza Strips can operate at once as a possible solution to the internecine stand-off. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas raised eyebrows when he told a group of visiting Israelis that he is willing to consider a demilitarized state – a primary demand of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.