Report: Hamas political leadership supports agreement with Israel
The Fatah party leadership has accused the organization of "suspicious agreements" with Israel.
By YASSER OKBI/MAARIVUpdated: AUGUST 6, 2018 10:35HAMAS CHIEF Ismail Haniyeh shakes hands with a boy during a protest at the Gaza border on April 9, 2018(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas has decided to endorse a "staggered" ceasefire with Israel, which would begin with an end to the launching of incendiary kites and balloons and, in exchange, Israel's lifting of the latest sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip, according to a report in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat.Hamas sources said that the Palestinian factions were informed of the decision by the ruling organization's political office that in exchange for the cessation of all attacks against the border fence, Israel would open the Kerem Shalom crossing to the transfer of goods and the fishing zone would be expanded.Israel halts fuel shipments to Gaza as terror on border continues, August 2, 2018 (Reuters)The two sides would then proceed to the second stage that would include a prisoner exchange and, in parallel, the beginning of large infrastructure projects in Gaza and preparations for the complete lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip.Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, announced that the whole agreement with Israel must be approved by all the Palestinian factions.In response, the Fatah party leadership has accused the organization of "suspicious agreements" with Israel."Hamas has no mandate to make agreements with Israel because it does not represent the Palestinian people," said senior Fatah official Ahmad Majdalani.Ahmad al-Adi, a 17-year-old who was injured on the first Friday of the Gaza protests known as the "Great March of Return," died of his injuries Sunday night.
