The Palestinian government, which has yet to be even formed, sparked a deep dispute between the Fatah and Hamas movements, levelling the harshest criticism against Hamas since the eruption of the war on Gaza.
The dispute first started when Hamas said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was “out of touch with reality” for appointing Dr. Mohammad Mustafa on Thursday to form a new government.
Fatah responded by saying: “Those who caused Gaza to return under Israeli occupation and caused a nakba (catastrophe) to befall the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, have no right to make dictates related to national priorities.”
“The real side that is out of touch with reality and the Palestinian people is the Hamas leadership that has until this moment failed to realize the extent of the catastrophe endured by our oppressed people in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories,” it stressed in a statement.
It wondered how Hamas could speak of unilateral action and division when “it did not consult the Palestinian leadership or any other national Palestinian party” when it took the decision “to embark on an adventure on October 7 that has led to a nakba that is more severe than the 1948 Nakba.”
“Has Hamas consulted the Palestinian leadership as it now negotiates with Israel and offers one concession after the other to it?” it wondered, while accusing the movement of only seeking the personal safety of its leaders.
It also accused it of seeking an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would keep the movement in Gaza so that it could continue to sow division between the Palestinian people.
Moreover, Fatah said the “life of luxury the Hamas leadership is living in seven-star hotels has blinded it to reason,” calling on it to end its policy of foreign agendas and return to the national fold.
Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian National Initiative movement slammed Abbas’ appointment of Mustafa as prime minister.
In a statement, they accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of continuing its unilateral approach and dismissing all efforts to restore Palestinian unity.
“We reject such an approach that has harmed and continues to harm our people and national cause,” they declared.
“The top national priority lies in confronting the barbaric systematic Zionist aggression and its genocide and war of starvation, not forming a new government,” they added.
They accused Abbas of deciding to form a new government without seeking national agreement first, “which consolidates his unilateral approach and deepens the division during such a pivotal historic moment.”
“The president’s move reflects the extent of the crisis within the Palestinian leadership, how out of touch with reality it is and the huge gap between it and our people, its concerns and aspirations,” said the statement.
Mustafa is a well-known businessman and economic expert. He succeeds Mohammed Shtayyeh, who resigned to meet American and international demands for reform in the PA.
Hamas was expecting Abbas to consult it in naming a new PM and was taken by surprise when he completely ignored it.
A source from the PA told Asharq Al-Awsat that ties between Fatah and Hamas have not improved even after the eruption of the war on Gaza.
Abbas took his decision out of his belief that there was no need to wait for anyone and that the priorities that Hamas listed demand the formation of a capable government.
Hamas has been demanding providing relief to the people and the rebuilding of Gaza.
The source stressed that Mustafa’s appointment was taken in line with understandings reached with Arab and western countries that are involved in the post-war arrangements in Gaza.
Hamas, which can no longer rule Gaza, should not impede those who can save and aid the people there, it went on to say.
Mustafa is seeking to form a government of independent non-partisan experts. He has a three-week deadline to announce a lineup.
