By Xinhua
Gaza : Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas ordered on Thursday evening to free prisoners of President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement who were detained this week by Hamas police forces.
Haneya said in a televised speech that he had instructed to release most of the detained by Hamas interior police “except those who were involved in riots and disturbances.”
Haneya also said that he had ordered to form an inquiry panel to investigate the circumstances of the disturbances that erupted in western Gaza City on Monday, where seven Fatah people were killed and 150 wounded.
He, meanwhile, justified what happened in Gaza by saying that “the government will carry out its national duties towards the victims and the wounded,” calling for forming a committee for national dialogue.
On Monday, seven Fatah supporters were shot dead by Hamas police forces in western Gaza in the wake of a rally held by the movement in the Hamas-ruled Gaza to mark the 3rd anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Fatah movement has accused Hamas police forces for attacking the rally with live ammunition after more than 300,000 Fatah supporters attended the rally.
President Abbas has earlier described Hamas movement as “a criminal gang killing people in cold blood,” calling on the Palestinians in Gaza “to topple this group of criminal gangs.”
However, Haneya called on Abbas for an end to the status of congestion and for an end to the war of words, saying “the security forces in the West Bank should release Hamas prisoners from its jails.”
“Hamas movement is not a group of gangs and it is not a movement that is thirsty for blood … Hamas is a popular and a national movement that gains its support from its people,” stressed Haneya.
He also slammed a U.S.-host Mideast peace summit due to be held in Annapolis by the end of November.
“Annapolis conference aims at striking the national Palestinian cause and overcome the Palestinian legitimate rights, mainly the Palestinian refugees right of return,” said Haneya.