GAZA CITY, 28 May 2006 — A day after withdrawing its private militia to help calm an increasingly bloody standoff with forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, the Hamas-led government sent its forces back on the streets of Gaza yesterday.
Hamas officials said the move was not meant as a provocation. But Abbas’ Fatah movement said the deployment risked igniting new violence and threatened negotiations on the president’s ultimatum to Hamas to accept a plan that would implicitly recognize Israel. The 3,000-strong Hamas militia has been at the center of the Palestinian infighting, and Hamas’ decision to withdraw the black-clad force on Friday was widely seen as a conciliatory gesture.
Youssef Zahar, spokesman for the militia, said yesterday’s deployment did not contradict the previous day’s decision. At the time, Hamas said the force would remain on standby at fixed locations and resume limited patrols in the future.
“The police stations are closed to us, so we’re making use of some streets,” Zahar said.
The presence of the Hamas gunmen was much smaller than earlier this week, with forces stationed at several major intersections and near the homes of senior Hamas government officials. The situation appeared to be calm, and in some instances, Hamas gunmen chatted freely with regular policemen.
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, however, said the return of the Hamas force, even in small numbers, was “unacceptable and illegal.”
“The lack of its presence on the streets yesterday brought great relief. Their return signals the possibility of new friction,” he said.
In Gaza City, hundreds of fighters from the Abu Rish Brigades, a group loosely linked to Fatah, gathered near the Parliament building to demonstrate against the Hamas force. “This force is unacceptable,” said Abu Harun, a spokesman for the group. The crowd, which included some armed men, dispersed peacefully after the protest.
Abu Khoussa accused Hamas of trying to carry out “political extortion” as the two sides continue their dialogue aimed at ending the standoff. Officials from Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions were working yesterday to form a committee that will discuss Abbas’ proposal.
Abbas has given Hamas until next week to accept a Palestinian state alongside Israel or be challenged in a national referendum. Hamas has been divided over the proposal, which implies recognition of Israel and would signal an end to the group’s stated goal of eliminating the Jewish state.
Abbas has been locked in a power struggle with Hamas since the group defeated Fatah in legislative elections in January. Abbas, elected separately last year, has been seeking to curb Hamas’ authority in security matters and other areas. Hamas decided to form its militia in April after Abbas placed a loyalist in charge of forces that report to the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry. The militia was deployed for the first time last week, setting off days of clashes with Fatah-dominated security forces that left 10 people killed.
Abbas issued his ultimatum on Thursday at the beginning of talks with Hamas meant to halt the infighting. He gave the group 10 days to accept the plan — drafted by senior Hamas and Fatah fighters imprisoned by Israel — before he takes the matter to a referendum. Palestinian pollsters expect the public to strongly support the proposal. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas reacted coolly to Abbas’ threat. Haniyeh said that since a Parliament election was held just four months ago, there was no need for a referendum.
— With input from agencies
