Sources in Palestinian Authority warn that Saturday morning might see renewed outbreak of violence in Gaza, West Bank, after striking clerks decide to boost their protests
Palestinian officials assessed that Saturday morning may harbinger a renewal of violent confrontations between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Sources in the PA expressed fear that Saturday might prove particularly bloody.
The violent confrontations between the Palestinian factions have not subsided since they erupted earlier in October, although recently they significantly cooled. With that, a renewed eruption of violence is expected in light of the intention of Palestinian security officials and PA clerks, who are on strike demanding their withheld salaries, to boost their protests against the financial crisis.
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In recent days, reports were heard that PA security officials planned to block roads Saturday and take over government buildings. Following the reports, Fatah and Hamas representatives said they would not send armed members out into the streets Saturday.
With that, Hamas accused Fatah officials and elements close to President Mahmoud Abbas of trying to heat things up to increase anarchy in the PA in order to justify future moves to topple the Hamas government.
Palestinian officials were also concerned that if violence erupts, it may spread to the West Bank as well.
Political motives?
Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siyam announced that members of the Hamas special security unit would prevent any attempt to target public institutions.
According to Siyam, “The Palestinian government is determined to maintain law and order and prevent anarchy, despite the fact that there are factors stirring things up for political purposes.”
For his part, Abbas denied the reports that security forces under his command were trying to renew the violence to perpetrate a coup. “We support a calming, not an escalation of violence,” the Palestinian president said in Ramallah.
He stressed that he would not let public institutions be damaged.
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