The PA official’s aggressive rhetoric inciting against Hamas along with the Palestinian factions goes in line with the “Deal of the Century” and prepares the ground for isolating the West Bank from Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem said on Saturday.

Following remarks made by member of Fatah Central Council Hussein al-Sheikh, calling for “measures to decide on Hamas’ presence and future on the Palestinian arena,” Qasem said that al-Sheikh should have worked on ending rather the occupation than the Palestinian resistance, including Hamas.

In a tweet, al-Sheikh accused Hamas of “crossing all red lines and being complicit with the conspirators” and called for a new strategy to “deal with Hamas and its existence.”

Deploring the aggressive rhetoric used by Fatah-led Palestinian Authority against the resistance factions, Qasem rejected al-Sheikh’s threats against his movement.

Qasem confirmed that Fatah’s dominance over the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and rejection to partnership with any national faction is one of the main reasons fuelling the internal rift and the Palestinian political polarization. 

“Fatah’s insistence on taking no steps towards a comprehensive reform of the PLO contravenes with all reconciliation deals agreed upon by all Palestinian factions, including the 2015 Cairo Deal,” Qasem added.