Palestinian Authority instigates violence in Gaza: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas says the Palestinian Authority (PA) sparks violence in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Spokesman for Hamas Interior Ministry Iyad al-Bozum said on Saturday that “members of the former security establishment in Gaza” exploit “the difficult conditions, especially since the last war, to spread chaos and confusion with explosions, car burnings and shootings,” referring to the latest Israeli aggression against Gaza in the summer of 2014.

Over the past several months, bomb blasts have targeted cars used by Hamas officials, as well as some belonging to the members of PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party.

According to Bozum, investigations have revealed that the incidents were “the result of plans by security chiefs in Ramallah,” where the headquarters of the PA is located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

He added that the acts of violence have been carried out with the aim of “spreading chaos in Gaza in order to cover up the government’s failure and absolve him (Abbas) from any responsibility.”

Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since the former won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006. Following the elections, Hamas took up the administration of the Gaza Strip. Fatah, however, set up its headquarters in the West Bank.

PA security forces were expelled from Gaza in 2007.

Hamas and the PA agreed to end their disputes and reconcile in spring 2014. However, the resistance group has since accused the government, which was created under the reconciliation deal, of leaving Gaza alone.

Ties between the two Palestinian groups have been further cooled since November, when a series of explosions hit the homes of a dozen Fatah officials in Gaza.

Several people have been arrested in connection with the incidents, Bozum said, adding that evidence showed they were members of the PA security services in Gaza before 2007 and carried out the attacks on Ramallah’s order. However, Fatah rejected the accusation in a statement.

Source-Press TV