Hamas to protect Abbas if he faces death threat in US framework deal

Hamas has affirmed that it would protect the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas if he faced death threats for refusing the framework deal proposed by the US Secretary of State John Kerry, the Gaza based newspaper Al-Resalah said.

The newspaper reported the prominent Hamas leader in Gaza Mosheer Al-Masri saying: “If Abbas says no to Kerry’s plan, the resistance would surely protect him as it protects anyone who loves their land and maintains the principles and fights for them.”

Similar to what happened with the late Yasser Arafat when he denied a peace deal with the Israeli occupation, several mass media reports and analysts warned Abbas may be disposed of should he refuse Kerry’s framework deal.

Meanwhile, Al-Masri reiterated that there is no reason for anyone to concede the Palestinian principles under any circumstances. “The tract of liberation and the establishment of a state have high costs and that must not be undermined by any Israeli threat to any individual,” he said.

About Hamas’ position towards the negotiations with the Israeli occupation, Al-Masri said: “Hamas is completely against the negotiations with the occupation and it is to strongly face any concessions regarding the rights and principles of Palestinians.”

The New York Times previously published the terms of Kerry’s plan, which appeared to be full of concessions he is trying to persuade the PA to accept.

The ongoing round of negotiations between the PA and the Israeli occupation resumed last July brokered by the White House.