Deposed Hamas-led government in Gazaon Wednesday denied reports that foreign Arab fighters affiliated with so-called Fatah al-Islam have infiltrated into the coastal Strip.
"Any one who wants to enter the Strip has to pass through the territories that were occupied in 1948 (by Israel) or through Egypt and in both cases it is impossible," said Taher al-Nounou, Hamas government spokesman.
Fatah al-Islam is a radical Muslim Sunni group which became well known to the world after it fought against the Lebanese army in Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon earlier this year.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group claimed, for the first time, responsibility for firing home-made rockets into southern Israeli town of Sderot.
Following the announcement, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah movement, has held rival Hamas responsible for the existence of such groups in Gaza.
"This is a dangerous development in the Gaza Strip where the legitimate institutions are absent because of Hamas' coup," Abdel Rahman said, referring to Hamas' takeover of the territory by force from pro-Abbas security services in mid-June.
"The current chaos is a result of Hamas' coup which created a state of anarchy and an atmosphere threatening the stability and safety of our people in the Gaza Strip," Abdel Rahman continued.
Fawzi Barhoom, spokesman for Hamas, attacked Abdel Rahman for his remarks, accusing him of supporting the tightening of the siege on 1.5 million residents "in order to make them accept the Israeli and American orders which Abdel Rahman agrees with."
Source:Xinhua
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