Ramallah: The Palestinian factions and political parties have urged the Gaza Hamas government to secure its rival Fatah the necessary approvals to organize Fatah’s 48th anniversary wherever Fatah desires in the Gaza Strip just the way Fatah treated Hamas in the West Bank. The groups have called on Hamas to avoid making unnecessary trouble which would increase the gap and deepen the rift between the two rivals.
According to Dr Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Hamas tries to create hindrances and unnecessary problems for Fatah. “There should be no problem when Fatah organises its rally anywhere in Gaza. Let Fatah organise a central rally at the Green Al Kateebah area just like the other Palestinian factions which organise their anniversaries and activities on the same spot,” he said. “Why does Hamas not accept Fatah to organise its anniversary rally on that spot?”
Abu Yousef, who is also the General Coordinator of all the Palestinian factions in the West Bank, told Gulf News that Hamas should treat Fatah in Gaza just the way Fatah treated Hamas in the West Bank where Hamas marked its anniversary with rallies organised all over the West Bank in the places of Hamas’ choice. “Fatah did not put any restrictions on Hamas’ celebrations in the West Bank and its rallies were organized in the West Bank cities’ major roundabouts,” he said. “Hamas should not pay attention to trivial details which on the other hand would make the situation between Fatah and Hamas worse.”
“Hamas should instantly agree to Fatah’s requests to organize Fatah’s 48th anniversary in any area in Gaza of Fatah’s choice,” he said.
“Hamas’ attitude on Fatah’s rally has destroyed the optimistic environment created after the Israeli offensive against Gaza and the upgraded status of Palestine in the UN to a non-member observer state,” he said.
Hamas has earlier denied Fatah the right to organize its rally in the Green Al Kateebah area based on security reports, and not on political grounds. Hamas announced that the Islamist movement would not agree to allow Fatah to organize its central rally in a single place in Gaza at a specific time.
An official statement from Hamas said that Hamas in the West Bank has organized its rallies on different days in the various West Bank cities. The statement said that Hamas would treat Fatah just the same way and allow it to organize several rallies in different areas of the Gaza Strip on in-advance agreed upon areas.
Angry Fatah said that it should have the opportunity to organize its rally anytime and anywhere in Gaza just the way that suits Fatah with no Hamas involvement.
he said.
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