Palestinian Authority Minister of Information Riad Al-Malki, who also serves as the government spokesman, announced that security forces have dismantled dozens of Hamas military cells operating in the West Bank.
During a press conference in Ramallah yesterday, Al-Malki told reporters that these heavily armed cells were planning attacks against the Palestinian Authority’s officials and security compound to undermine the peace conference scheduled for Annapolis Tuesday.
“Some of these cells were active, others were not active… And their job is to carry out attacks and provoke riots during the conference.”
During raids on their hideouts, the security forces found dozens of rifles, grenades, explosives and leaflets inciting people to demonstrate against the conference, Al Malki added.
The peace conference in Annapolis, which is being organized under United States auspices, is an attempt to relaunch the stalled peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Besides the Palestinian and Israeli delegations, high-level representatives from Arab countries are also expected to participate in the event.
Meanwhile, Hamas is to hold a conference in Gaza City at noon on Monday in opposition to the Annapolis event.
Among those participating in the Hamas conference are the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Hamas will try to lobby factions against the conference and show that the Palestinian delegation to Annapolis, headed by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud ‘Abbas, "doesn’t represent the Palestinian people."
"The delegation is away from the people’s will," said Osama Al-Muzini, a senior Hamas leader, adding that "no one has the right to give up any national principle."
The participants in the Gaza conference will also underline that resistance is the only way to regain the rights.
"What was taken by force can never be restored without force," Al-Muzini added.