By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of rival Fatah movement for proposing a ceasefire between Israel and the armed groups in the Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Abbas “must start with himself and stop his war against Gaza and Hamas movement… otherwise, his ceasefire call will not be more than media propaganda,” said Hamas’ spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
On Thursday, a spokesman for Abbas revealed the president’s readiness to mediate between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups to reach the ceasefire.
“The president was ready to try to broker a mutual ceasefire to stop the ongoing massacres against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” said the presidential spokesman.
But Abu Zuhri stressed that what Hamas opposes is not the ceasefire itself but Abbas’ role in the matter, saying “Abbas’ interference to broker a calmness is unacceptable… we accept anyone’s mediation except Abbas’,” Abu Zuhri said,.
He conditioned the ceasefire on the end of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people.
Hamas routed pro-Abbas security forces in June and thus took over the Gaza Strip.
In the wake of Hamas’ Gaza takeover, Israel tightened its blockade on the coastal Strip.