A spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Thursday that Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is using humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a tool to defeat Hamas movement.
"The crisis in Gaza was a humanitarian one resulted from the siege...it is unacceptable that the crisis be exploited in a way that builds pressure on Hamas movement," said Sami Abu Zuhri.
Abu Zuhri made the remarks in response to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat who on Wednesday said that reopening a key crossing between Gaza and Egypt requires that Hamas ends "its coupin Gaza" in addition to abiding by an international deal to run the passage.
"This proves that we are facing a political extortion that targets the suffering and the pains of the people," Abu Zuhri added.
Rafah border crossing was closed in last June when Hamas routed Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and took over Gaza.
According to a U.S.-brokered deal signed in 2005, the Palestinian side of all Gaza crossings should be jointly run by the pro-Abbas security and European Union (EU) monitors.
After more than six months of Israeli blockade on Gaza, Hamas militants blew holes in border fence separating Gaza and Egypt last month which allowed residents in Gaza to freely cross into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to purchase vital daily stuff that ran out from Gaza due to the siege.
Hamas also is seeking to reopen Rafah crossing but Egypt insists that the reopen must be in line with the 2005 agreement. However, Hamas wants new arrangements since it has been ruling Gaza.
"We are determined to end all forms of siege and will not accept the continuation of the crossings' closure which turns Gaza into a big prison," Abu Zuhri says.
Source: Xinhua
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