Hamas decides against media war with Fatah

The Chairman of the Hamas media office said on Tuesday that the movement has decided not to be dragged into a media war with Fatah.

Dr Khalil Al-Hayya told journalists that Hamas is doing its best along with the other Palestinian factions to undermine the US “deal of the century”.

The Hamas Political Bureau member made his comments after several statements by Fatah leaders accusing the Islamic Resistance Movement of undermining attempts to end the internal division. They blame the movement for not issuing permits for its leaders to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.

“We are serious in our efforts aimed at undermining the deal of the century,” explained Al-Hayya, “but our collective work as Palestinians is yet below the needed level.”

He pointed out there are international parties who were shocked at the weak Palestinian response to the announcement of Donald Trump’s “peace plan”, in the wake of which the Fatah, PLO and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that he would visit Gaza and meet with the Hamas leadership in order to work out joint efforts against the deal.

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Hamas welcomed this, and its leader Ismail Haniyeh called Abbas and issued an open invitation for him to visit Gaza. However, Fatah cancelled the visit, and claimed that the de facto governing body did not issue entry permits.

“Hamas is going ahead with determination against the deal of the century and it will use all possible means to do so,” insisted Al-Hayya. “The deal is set to fail as long as it lacks Palestinian support.”

He warned against any retreat in the official Palestinian position regarding the Trump plan, and stressed that Hamas will condemn any such move. The movement also criticised the support given by some Arab states to the deal, pointing out they see the “Zionist entity as the Messiah” and run behind it for the sake of salvation.

Al-Hayya stressed that the movement is keen to maintain good relations with Egypt and all the Arab and Islamic states. Ismail Haniyeh’s ongoing international tour is part of these efforts, he noted.

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