The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has denounced Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ amendments of judicial laws. 

In a press release, Hamas Spokesman Hazem Qasem said that this move “is rejected and condemned as it raises serious concern over the PA leader’s insistence to violate constitutional and legal principles in passing or amending laws.”

Qasem added: “The latest decisions taken by the PA president aimed to take over the judiciary and violate its independency.”

Hamas official reiterated that “this move highlights the PA leadership’s persistence to continue cracking down on public freedoms and rights.”

He also stressed that these decisions indicated that the PA leadership “is determined to continue its monopoly and dominance over the Palestinian political system amidst ongoing efforts aimed to create a positive environment in which public freedoms and judicial transparency and independency are guaranteed to ensure the success of eminent Palestinian elections.”