In wake of Egypt's effort to strike truce between rival Palestinian factions, Hamas hardliner warns his group adamant on vindication from Palestinian president's claims that Hamas leaders went into hiding during Gaza war
Senior Hamas member
Mahmoud al-Zahar declared Wednesday that despite the impending truce between the Islamist group and Fatah,
Hamas still wants to prosecute Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"A day will come when Abu Mazen will have to answer for his smear campaign against us and his actions in the (Gaza) war in a special court," he said, referencing Abbas' claims that Hamas' leadership chose to go into hiding during
the Israeli offensive in
Gaza, while leaving Palestinian civilians in harm's way.
Progress
Fatah signs truce deal with Hamas / Ali Waked
Sources in Egypt say Hamas also plans to sign accord postponed in aftermath of Goldstone report. Hamas spokesperson: We won't be pressured into signing
"We demand Abu Mazen name those he claims hid," said al-Zahar. "I want him to say exactly where he thinks we ran to. This man must stop trying to spread his lies, especially now that the Goldstone fiasco has
been exposed, now that the Israelis exposed him as the one who wanted to prolong the war in the Strip. That is why he chooses to slam us instead of apologizing."
Meanwhile, Egypt is
making a last-ditch effort to convince Hamas to sing the truce with Fatah.
Cairo has gone to great lengths to try and convince Hamas reconciliation is in its best interest. Egyptian official ventured that despite the group's voiced reservations, it will eventually sign the treat.
Egyptian sources told Ynet the a senior Hamas official was holding last-minute meeting with Arab officials in the Persian Gulf and unless something dramatic happens in the 11th hour, Hamas will agree to the truce, despite its attempt to "squeeze the most" out of the Goldstone Report controversy
in Palestinian public opinion.
Fatah officials said that should Hamas decide to back out of the deal, the movement would insist Abbas call for a general election.
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