Abbas to Hamas: Remove forces from Gaza
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reports of PA chairman's order, says 'it's a very worrying situation.' Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinian police officers demonstrate in protest of establishment of new security organization by Hamas-led government
The unit, made up of 3,000 militants loyal to Hamas, was deployed Wednesday in defiance of Abbas who opposed the creation of the new force.
"I hope they will leave," Erekat said of the Hamas gunmen. "If they don't leave, we are heading toward a serious crisis."
On Thursday, thousands of Palestinian police loyal to Abbas patrolled the streets of Gaza in a show of force, but did not take action against the Hamas force which was also deployed across large areas.
"We are the Authority, we salute you Abu Mazen (Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas)," the officers called out in protest of the establishment of a new security organization by the Hamas-led government.
Simultaneously, Fatah's al-Aqsa Brigades gunmen fired at a convoy led by Deputy Palestinian Prime Minister Nasser el-Dein al-Shaer in the West Bank city of Tul Karem.
Police's show of force in Gaza (Photo: AP)
Shaer was planning to visit the governor's office in the city. When his car reached the area, hundreds of family members of Palestinian prisoners, members of Fatah, gathered around him.
The families were protesting the fact that the Hamas-led government was transferring pensions to Hamas prisoners and their families, while failing to transfer the pensions to prisoners affiliated with the other organizations.
Abbas' real test
The tension in the PA reached a new high after the Palestinian Interior Ministry decided to establish a new security organization, despite Abbas' opposition.
On Wednesday, thousands of Fatah members and Palestinian personnel demonstrated in the Strip in support of Abbas and in protest of the new organization. The Fatah activists accused the new organization's personnel of operating to violently disperse the Khan Younis demonstration.
The demonstration continued Thursday morning, when the Palestinian police commanders stood in their jeeps and waved their rifles, calling out: "Jerusalem, the president, the homeland."
Suleiman Heles, head of the Palestinian National Security, said that the message erupting from the demonstrations is that "the Palestinian police is the only body permitted to maintain law and order."
All this took place several hours after the Egyptian security delegation convened senior Hamas and Fatah members in Gaza in a bid to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
The Egyptian delegation called on the parties to restrain themselves and refrain from violence.
PA officials estimated that the new organization's activity will continue to stir row. It appears that this is Abbas' real test opposite the new Hamas-led government.
