In the wake of Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas’ threats to impose more punitive measures on Gaza, Hamas stressed Israeli occupation is the main cause of Gaza suffering.

“Abbas’ plan to impose new punishments is part of the security and political Israeli measures aimed to increase the suffering of the Gaza residents,” Member of Hamas Political Bureau Salah al-Bardaweel said.

The senior Hamas leader stressed that Gaza residents would hit back against the Israeli occupation of Abbas had imposed new measures “because they know that the occupation is the reason of the sickness.”

About the reasons behind Abbas’ threats, Al-Bardaweel said: “This is an attempt to get the world’s attention on him at a time when he feels the occupation and the Americans are looking for someone else to run the PA.”

However, he stressed: “Abbas chose the wrong time to escalate his hostility against Gaza as the international community believes it is on the verge of an explosion and is working to maintain calmness, not to cause chaos.”

Regarding the possibility a new Israeli offensive on Gaza, he said: “All facts on the ground prove that the Israeli occupation does not want to start a new offensive on Gaza.”

He added: “We are a resistance movement whose goal is to liberate its land and holy sites from the occupation and to defend its people. Therefore, we are ready for all possibilities.”

Meanwhile, he said that his movement is interested in any international effort aiming at reducing the pressure on Palestinians and to help them regain their rights.

“We are ready to sit with anyone in the world on condition he is ready to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to leave our land and our sky,” he said. “Even if it is the US,” he said, “but this must not be part of the ‘Deal of the Century’ which is an extension of Oslo.”