Ramallah: After ten years of division between Fatah and Hamas, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to take unprecedented steps in the coming days to end the political and geographical division with the Gaza Strip and to reassume Palestinian National Authority (PNA) control there.
Currently Hamas is part of a unity government with Fatah, but it recently formed its own administrative committee to rule Gaza, angering the Palestinian Authority.
“We are in dangerous situation, which requires decisive action, which we will soon take,” he told Palestinian ambassadors in the Bahraini capital of Manama on Wednesday.
Analysts speaking to Gulf News say that Abbas will likely pile economic pressure on Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, in order to weaken its grip there.
The Palestinian unity government could cut off all financial assistance to Gaza — it has already slashed the salaries of government employees in Gaza by one-third.
The PNA also plans to cut off 670 Gazan families from benefits, Talal Okal, a Gaza-based analyst told Gulf News. “The list has already been prepared.”
He warned that the “unprecedented measures” could come as early as Saturday.
“Gaza will face a huge humanitarian crisis,” he warned.
“The transfer of medicines and health equipment will be suspended which may lead to many preventable deaths,” Okal said.
But many Palestinians are sceptical that Abbas will be able to force Hamas to surrender.
They say any punitive moves taken will only deepen the economic sufferings of Gazans.
But Hamas isn’t helping. Recently, it formed its own committee to administer Gaza in a move that infuriated the PNA and deepened political divisions between Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.
“As a result, the PNA decided it was time to cut finances to Gaza since Hamas was the ‘real ruler,” Fatah sources told Gulf News.
A PNA delegation is expected to arrive in Gaza “soon” to negotiate with Hamas to hand back control to PNA.
If the negotiations fail, the PNA may take more punitive steps, senior Palestinian security sources told Gulf News.
“Gulf states are backing Abbas. They blame Hamas for failure in achieving reconciliation,” the sources added.
Hamas supporters dismiss Abbas’ threat saying he is only trying to show the US president that he is “tough on Hamas” ahead of an upcoming meeting with Trump.
Palestine Liberation Organisation Secretary-General Saeb Erekat will be in Washington this weekend to hold talks with US officials.
Hamas took over the Gaza Strip following a brief civil war with the Fatah movement in 2007, which ousted Abbas and his Fatah movement from Gaza.
Since then, Israel has imposed a strict land and maritime siege over the coastal strip.
In 2014, Abbas set up a consensus government under Rami Al Hamdallah, but it has never been able to control Gaza.
Other non-economic measures could also be taken, although analysts say that is unlikely.
Abbas could outlaw Hamas altogether which would affect the Islamist group’s relationship with the entire world.
Abbas could also convene the Palestinian National Council without Hamas.
Around 60,000 employees of the Palestinian National Authority in Gaza receive salaries without working, since they have nothing to do in the Hamas-run enclave.
European countries, who pay around 10 per cent of the PNA’s monthly salaries, complain against the ‘waste of money’.
Currently, the PNA spends $60 million a month on Gaza, in direct and indirect expenditures.
This accounts for a whopping 52 per cent of its budget which is hard to justify since the population in Gaza is less than that of the Occupied West Bank.
Aside from government salaries, the PNA provides fuel and electricity subsidies and contributes to infrastructure, water and reconstruction projects.
It also gives financial assistance to the families of prisoners, martyrs and the poor.
