A Palestinian official on Saturday denied reports that Hamas accepted the deployment of President Mahmoud Abbas' forces on a crossing point between Gaza and Egypt for the reopening of the passage.
"We have offered to deploy the Palestinian National Authority's forces on Rafah crossing to implement the 2005 crossings agreement, but actually Hamas doesn't want any presence for the PNA," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a Palestinian negotiator.
He added that Rafah crossing can not be opened without the U.S.-brokered protocol which was signed between the PNA, Israel, the European Union and Egypt when Israel left Gaza Strip in 2005.
The EU monitors and the PNA forces withdrew from the crossing in June 2007 when Hamas fought pro-Abbas forces and seized control of Gaza Strip.
By keeping on its grip on Gaza Strip, Hamas "boosts the Israeli pretexts to keep Rafah crossing closed," Abed Rabbo said, stressing that all the pretexts most be removed to lift the siege on Gaza Strip.
Egypt mediated between Hamas and Israel to broker a ceasefire in Gaza Strip. Hamas accepted the offer but Israel demanded that the deal ensures the release of its soldier, Gilad Shalit, who Hamas kidnapped in 2006.
"The problem is that Hamas wants a truce with Israel and doesn't want calmness with the PNA," Abed Rabbo said, adding that Hamas " works for its interests as a movement and not for the national interests in general."
Source: Xinhua
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