In a last minute effort to prevent an escalation in the inner Palestinian security situation, Egyptian officials brokered an agreement between Hamas and Fatah on Saturday night to end violent clashes between the two rival groups.
Hamas and Fatah pledged on Sunday to make an effort to iron out differences and work towards national unity after violent clashes erupted in the Palestinian territories over the weekend.
The clashes broke out after senior Hamas leader Kalid Mash’al verbally attacked Fatah during a speech he delivered in Damascus.
On Thursday the new Interior Minister Sa’id ‘Siam announced the appointment of Jamal Abu Samhadana, the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, as inspector general of the Interior Ministry, effectively placing several security branches under his control. The move is widely seen as an attempt by Hamas to strengthen its hold over the security forces.
Subsequently, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas, a Fatah member, issued a presidential decree canceling the decision.
Secretary of ‘Abbas’ office A-Tayyib ‘Abd A-Rahim said ‘Abbas decided to send a message to Palestinian Prime Minister Isma’il Haniyya demanding clarifications and deeming the decision unconstitutional. However, Interior Ministry officials are saying the ministry has not received any such letter from the chairman.
Following ‘Abbas’ decision, Mash’al said senior Fatah officials are conspiring to deprive Hamas of its authorities, and that there is a plot to overthrow the Hamas-dominated government.
Mash’al said the government has the right to form new armed groups to protect the people, without financial reward, “instead of the existing forces that are bought and sold by enemies of our people,” a remark understood as referring to the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aq’sa Martyrs Brigades.
Armed confrontations between student supporters of Hamas and Fatah at Al-Azhar University in Gaza on Saturday resulted in injuries to about 40 protesters.
Other protests were reported elsewhere in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank. Fatah supporters were insisting Mash’al apologize for his remarks.