Head of Hamas' National Relations Division Abroad, Ali Barakeh, said Friday that his movement is "gravely concerned" about the steps taken by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to marginalize the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). 

In a press statement, Barakeh denounced holding the recent illegitimate PLO's Central Council and issuing a presidential decree to limit the PLO's role to the occupied Palestinian territories as "unprecedented steps intended to perpetuate a policy of marginalization that has been adopted by the PA's leadership against the PLO for years." 

As it reiterates its rejection of such decisions, Hamas stresses that this move constitutes a violation of the Palestinian law and constitution and has serious political repercussions on the political representation of the Palestinian people at home and abroad, Barakeh pointed out.   

Barakeh explained that the unilateral approach adopted by the PA leadership has brought the Palestinian cause to this "serious situation". 

The Hamas official confirmed that taking such steps "delivers a blow" to all strenuous efforts exerted by Hamas, along with all Palestinian factions, to reform the PLO. 

"Hamas views all recent steps taken by the PA's leadership as a grave contravention of all Arab-brokered agreements hammered out to reform the PLO and the unified Palestinian leadership framework, and seriously affect the collective representation of the Palestinian people," Barakeh concluded.