Refusing Fatah’s demand that Hamas unarm itself as required under the Palestinian reconciliation agreement, the terrorist group Hamas vowed their arsenal “will not be touched,” with plans to  expand its military activities against Israel into the West Bank.

By Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas vowed Monday to expand its military activities against Israel into the West Bank, underscoring the challenges ahead since the organization began its reconciliation with the Fatah party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since winning legislative elections in 2006 and ousting Fatah the following year in a military coup, a move that prompted an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

Was Palestinian Authority autocrat Mahmoud Abbas (L) out maneuvered by senior political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh? (R)

In an Egyptian-brokered deal last month, Hamas transferred control of Gaza’s crossings with Israel and Egypt to the PA. Hamas was expected to take further steps to extend PA control over Gaza on Dec. 1, but disagreements between the two parties have intensified.

To restore control of Gaza and secure its authority, Fatah demands that Hamas neutralize its weapon arsenal, which the Islamic group used to eject Fatah and to fight three wars against Israel, in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

“These weapons will not be touched. It’s not for debate or talks,” Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, told reporters in Gaza.

“These weapons will clearly move to the West Bank to battle the [Israeli] occupation there. It’s our right to fight the occupation until it ends,” he said.

Hamas decries the Palestinian Authority’s security cooperation with Israel in the West Bank. Fatah, in turn, accuses Hamas of hindering the Palestinian government’s work in Gaza.

Al-Hayya’s remarks highlight stark differences between the two groups, and the discussion of weapons has been delayed for future negotiations over broader national issues. They threatened to derail the Egyptian-mediated efforts to end a decade of Palestinian political and territorial split. On Monday, Egyptian security envoys hurried to Gaza to meet with Fatah and Hamas officials to try to save the agreement from further setbacks.

A major sticking point between Hamas and Fatah is resolving payments for nearly 40,000 employees Hamas has hired to run Gaza, and sanctions Abbas imposed on Gaza since March to pressure Hamas. Analysts believe the measures, which included electricity and payments cuts, helped bring Hamas to the negotiating table.

Fatah linked the lifting of the sanctions with further Hamas concessions.”We, with our people, will work strongly to force the government to lift the punitive measures,” al-Hayya said.

View original Israel Hayom publication at:
http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/11/28/hamas-vows-not-to-disarm-threatens-to-expand-in-west-bank/