Region | Palestinian Territories

Hamas demands say over Gaza border ahead of talks

Hamas on Wednesday demanded a central role in controlling the Gaza Strip's breached border with Egypt in a challenge to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian and Western powers.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 12:03 January 30, 2008
  • Gulf News

Rafah: Hamas on Wednesday demanded a central role in controlling the Gaza Strip's breached border with Egypt in a challenge to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian and Western powers.

Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in June after routing Abbas's secular Fatah forces, has signalled that it will keep the border wall with Egypt open unless it gets its way.

"Talking about a partial role contradicts reality. The reality is that there is a legitimate government. We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody," said senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Zahar as he crossed into Egypt to take part in talks on the future of the border, which Hamas blasted open last week in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade.

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