The Hamas-led Palestinian cabinet said on Sunday that the new forces formed by Fatah gunmen in West Bank city of Jenin were illegal, outlaw and don't get any legitimacy from the government or its interior ministry.

The government appeals to the law in every action it does as it is the only side authorized to impose law and order, so anything comes from outside the government is illegal, a spokesman of the Hamas-led government told reporters.

These formations are outlaw and they belong to one faction, stressed the spokesman.

On Saturday, Fatah armed wing al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced the deployment of 2500 militants on the streets of Jenin city to protect it from Israeli attacks and protect Fatah members.

Fatah members see the new force as a pattern of the Auxiliary Forces that Interior Minister and senior Hamas member Said Siam deployed in Gaza on May 17.

The spokesman of the Hamas-led cabinet elaborated that the Auxiliary Forces were deployed according to an order by the government and its interior ministry.

The Auxiliary Forces have a role which is maintaining law and being part of the police, but the forces in Jenin belong to a faction and they have no right to be deployed, added the spokesman.

The Auxiliary Forces, comprises 3,000-strong Hamas-led militants, frequently clash with Fatah gunmen and members of the Preventive Security Forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.

The clashes have claimed the lives of more than five Palestinians and a Jordanian embassy staff member.

On Sunday, Izz el-Deen al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, issued a statement and accused the Preventive Security Forces of causing internal violence in Gaza by targeting members of the Auxiliary Forces.

The statement was issued after five Palestinians were wounded in midnight clashes between members of the Auxiliary Forces and Fatah gunmen in southern Gaza Strip. The wounded were from both sides.

Source: Xinhua