TEMPO.CO, Gaza – Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has accused Hamas of trying “to destroy” efforts for national reconciliation by carrying out bomb attacks in the Gaza Strip last week.
"Those who caused the explosions in Gaza are the leaders of Hamas, they are responsible," said Abbas as reported by Channel News Asia on Tuesday. He further accused Hamas of trying “ to sabotage and destroy the Palestinian national project.”
Hamas denied the accusations and described them as “lies”. "Abbas' speech is web of lies, insults and disinformation," said Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza. "What the Palestinian people need is a courageous president."
Earlier this year, the two nationalist movements signed a reconciliation agreement to end seven years of rivalry in the West Bank and Gaza ruled by separate administrations. The agreement led to the creation of a government of national consensus in Ramallah.
Abbas also accused Hamas of causing unrest in Al-Aqsa mosque in the last four months. He then pledged that he “will defend Al-Aqsa and the churches against the settlers and extremists.”
RINDU P. HESTYA | CHANNEL NEWS ASIA
