By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Sunday that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and all its affiliated groups are henceforth outlawed.
By issuing a presidential decree, Abbas banned the Hamas-dominated Executive Force and other Hamas-linked groups.
Abbas accused the Executive Force of carrying out an armed rebellion against the Palestinian legitimacy and its institution.
"Anyone who has ties with these groups will be punished in accordance with the laws under the state of emergency," said the decree.
The ban came minutes after Abbas swore in the Palestinian emergency government in the West Bank.
However, Hamas still rejected the new government, terming it as "illegitimate."
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