Fatah, the Palestinian faction based in the West Bank, has criticized Hamas, the governing authority in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of facilitating Israeli influence over the region.
Egypt’s al-Qahera el-Ekhbariya TV reported Fatah’s assertion, stating that Hamas’s policies have led to the reassertion of Israeli control in Gaza.
In a statement quoted by the report, Fatah lamented the situation, indicating that it is now compelled to engage in negotiations with Israel to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Fatah further asserted that Hamas’s purported bid to join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is driven solely by self-preservation motives rather than genuine commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Despite periodic discussions between representatives of different Palestinian factions, including the recent meeting in Moscow on March 1, significant differences between Fatah and Hamas remain unresolved.
While both sides previously declared unity against aggression in Gaza, tensions resurfaced on March 15 when Hamas criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to form a new technocrat-led government.
Fatah, in turn, rebuked Hamas for its actions on October 7, 2023, citing unilateral moves that exacerbated the plight of Palestinians.
