The spokesperson of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum stated the following:

The latest measures tacken by Mahmoud Abbas against the Palestinian workers in the Gaza Strip and forcing them to retire are immoral and inhuman acts that aim to target the Palestinian unity and further aggravate the internal split to weaken our people's resistance. This is going to debilitate the Palestinian fair cause and strengthen the Israeli- American agendas in the region.

These arbitrary measures are crimes against humanity that entail taking prompt national and legal counteractions to confront them and save our people. What is required from Abbas is to retract his latest controversial decision immediately and to fulfill his responsibilities towards the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.