Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh insisted Friday that Hamas’ 6,000-strong militia be recognized as a branch of the Palestinian security forces, a point of dispute that has provoked bloody clashes with the rival Fatah movement in the past.
Fatah dominates the security forces. Fatah’s leader, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has declared the Hamas militia illegal and wants it dismantled.
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have risen in recent days despite a truce reached last month. A Fatah supporter was killed in factional fighting on Thursday, and a Hamas backer was seized and shot in the legs by Fatah gunmen later in the day.
Hamas and Fatah have waged an increasingly bloody power struggle, including over control of the security forces, in the past year. The formation of a Hamas-Fatah coalition government in March calmed the situation only briefly, and deadly fighting erupted again in May. Haniyeh’s interior minister resigned last month over his inability to enact a new security plan.
Clashes have claimed hundreds
The Hamas militia, known as the Executive Force, was formed last year by the Hamas-only government as a response to its lack of authority over the security forces loyal to Abbas. Most of its members are drawn from the militant branch of Hamas. Clashes between the two sides soon followed and nearly 200 people have been killed since then.
Haniyeh, of Hamas, told worshippers in a mosque in the Jebaliya Refugee Camp — a Hamas power base, that the Executive Force must be recognized and kept intact.
“I say it is legal, and also has the bravest, cleanest and most loyal men,” said Haniyeh, who is now acting interior minister.
Fatah has said the militia must be dismantled and has proposed to have militia members who qualify join existing branches of the security forces. Fatah spokesman Maher Mikdad said keeping the Hamas militia intact is a dealbreaker.
“There is no approval to deploy this force as an independent group. I am afraid this will contribute to the failure of the security plan in general,” he said.
Seeking weapons for his side
Haniyeh said he is ready to establish a joint task force of members of various security branches, including the Hamas militia, to deal with chaos and lawlessness in Gaza.
Fatah and Hamas members have met with Egyptian officials in Cairo to find ways to end the internal fighting, and the joint force is on the agenda. Officials say both sides agree to the idea in principle, but haven’t found a way to bring the warring factions together under one leadership.
“There is still discussions about how to implement it,” Nimr Hamad, an Abbas aide, said.
Haniyeh, referring to reports that Fatah’s security forces have asked for permission from Israel to import new weapons via Egypt, said Arab countries should not offer their help.
“It is not acceptable that any Arab country provide weapons to one side,” he said, charging such shipments are part of an alleged U.S. and Israeli plot to bring down Hamas by force.
Haniyeh urged Arab countries to provide weapons for the new joint force, instead of arming one side against the other.
