Rumors on the Palestinian street regarding the possibility that Hamas would establish an independent state in the Gaza Strip were categorically denied on Tuesday during an interview The Media Line conducted with a Hamas member of the national unity government, which was dissolved last week.
"The national unity government and the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will not agree, under any circumstances, to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank," said the national unity government’s Economy Minister Dr. Ziyad A-Zaza.
A-Zaza refused to accept the legitimacy of the newly appointed emergency government, and claimed the national unity government was the only legitimate executive body. He explained that according to the Basic Law, it was the Palestinian Authority chairman’s right to dissolve a government, but once he did so, the dissolved government began to operate as an interim government for 30 days.
Therefore, A-Zaza said, "the emergency government is illegitimate in accordance with the constitution and the law."
A-Zaza acknowledged the fact that the national unity government’s ministers in the West Bank were unable to perform their duties. He explained this was the result of "an outright aggression by the hands of the dissident group led by [Fatah’s strongman, Muhammad] Dahlan."
In response to a question regarding the international status of the dissolved national unity government, A-Zaza said the government still maintained "contact with a number of officials in Arab and Western countries. This contact is developing and increasing daily," he said
Throughout the interview, A-Zaza tried to convey the message of business as usual. But on the ground, what remained of the national unity government was only its five members, including Isma’il Haniyya, who are residents of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the Ramallah-based emergency government, which was appointed by ‘Abbas last week and was acknowledged by most of the world, is in control in the West Bank.
So far two members of the dissolved unity government have willingly accepted the decision to dissolve their government. One of them, Justice Minister ‘Ali Sartawi, gave The Media Line an interview late Monday, where he expressed his full support for ‘Abbas and referred to the national unity government as "the former government."
A Palestinian source revealed to The Media Line that Fatah’s former minister of transportation, S’adi Al-Krunz, was the second minister to resign. Al-Krunz was appointed by ‘Abbas as the emergency government’s general secretary, the source added.
Meanwhile, the clashes in the Gaza Strip continued on Monday. One Palestinian was killed and at least 10 others were wounded on Monday evening when a gunman attacked a group of Palestinian civilians waiting for permission to cross from the Gaza Strip into Israel near the Erez Crossing.
Responsibility for the attack was later claimed by the Popular Resistance Committees.