PA factions sign anti-truce pact
While rumors circulate that Hamas considering truce with Israel, five factions draw up agreement refusing to lay down arms
Another Palestinian faction announced Wednesday that it would refuse to cooperate with any declaration of a truce with Israel, following reports that behind the scenes Hamas was considering a cease-fire.
The Abu Rish Brigades, an armed wing affiliated with Fatah, assembled a press conference Wednesday and announced they would reject any request by the Hamas to cease attacks on Israel. The Abu Rish Brigades was responsible for frequent rocket-fire at Israel and claimed a number of recent shooting attacks in the West Bank.
The organization says it sees violent resistance as the Palestinian people’s main option as long as the occupation continues.
In recent days five Palestinian factions signed a pact saying they would continue the armed struggle and would not halt shooting attacks, Qassam rocket launches and other forms of terrorism to protest the escalation of Israeli military action against Palestinian targets.
The five groups included al-Quds, associated with the Islamic Jihad; Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades; Salah al-Din, affiliated with the Popular Resistance Committee; and the Abu Rish Brigades. Hamas’ armed wing; the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades was notably missing from the meeting in which the factions drew up the agreement.
Hamas members refuse to comment
The groups met as rumors have been circulating recently that Hamas is holding secret discussions to explore the possibility of renewing the cease-fire with Israel, which expired at the end of the year. Hamas has much at stake now that it is posed to head the Palestinian government, as Israel and the international community is withholding all financial aid unless Hamas gives in to certain preconditions.
Members of Hamas, however, refused to comment on the reports. Sources in the PA assess that the new government under the Hamas is likely to meet with the same chaos and lawlessness that characterized the previous leadership’s reign under the Fatah.
