Isma’il Haniyya, the self-declared prime minister of the deposed Palestinian government in Gaza, is expanding his government, a further indication that Hamas is strengthening its hold over the Gaza Strip.
Hamas took over Gaza from Fatah in a violent coup last June. Until the coup, a joint government, including both Fatah and Hamas members, was headed by Haniyya and controlled Gaza and the West Bank. But the coup created a de-facto separation in leadership between the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas fired the Hamas-led government after the coup and formed a Western-backed government with no Hamas members, which is headed by Salam Faya’d.
Meanwhile, the deposed Hamas government continued to operate in the Gaza Strip with four ministers, with Haniyya at its head.
Sources close to Haniyya said he was planning to expand his government and present the new cabinet to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for approval.
The new government will include six new ministries, bringing the number of ministers up to 10, according to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an.
All the government ministers will be members of Hamas.
The expansion signifies Hamas’ determination to maintain its hold on power in Gaza.
The Gazan population has been facing difficult living conditions because of pressure from Israel since the takeover.
Israel is launching pinpoint military attacks in the Gaza Strip in order to end the almost daily rockets attacks from Gaza onto Israeli communities, and to stop the smuggling of terrorists, weapons and other illicit materials through tunnels from Sinai.
Hamas has refused to comply with international demands to recognize Israel, denounce violence and acknowledge previously signed agreements.