Hamas says Mahmoud Abbas’ controversial decision to withdraw support for a motion that could result in the trial of Israeli war criminals, had a negative impact on reconciliation talks.
The democratically-elected government of the Gaza Strip, Hamas, believes the Palestinian Authority has betrayed the victims of the three-week war by bowing to the pressure from the US and Israel.
A source within the resistance movement said on Wednesday that Hamas has "asked Egypt to postpone the session for the signature of the agreement with the rival Fatah movement of Acting Palestinian Chief Mahmoud Abbas".
The Islamic group had earlier announced readiness to sign an Egyptian-proposed reconciliation deal in October to settle differences with Fatah, which rules the West Bank.
A spokesman for the resistance movement, Fawzi Barhum, has also said that "Hamas, Palestinian factions and Egyptian officials are continuing consultations over what consequences the withdrawal of support for the Goldstone report by the Palestinian Authority would have on the Palestinian reconciliation dialogue."
Abbas’ decision delayed a vote, which would send the report to the United Nations Security Council, which has the power to ask the International Criminal Court to open a criminal case against Israel.
The report by a fact-finding mission, headed by international prosecutor Richard Goldston, accuses Israel of deliberately violating international humanitarian law and using disproportionate force during its "Operation Cast Lead" against the people of Gaza at the turn of the year.
Some Hamas officials believe the controversial decision by the PA proves the allegations that Abbas’ Western-backed government had cooperated with Tel Aviv during its deadly offensive on Gaza, which left nearly 1,400 Palestinians dead.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has also criticized Mahmoud Abbas over the move, saying his decision shows that he does not care about unity among Palestinian factions.
"I don’t imagine that anyone who (seeks a delay) really strives for the unity of Palestinian national work", Abul Gheit said.
Fatah and Hamas have been divided since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza.
(Press TV)
