Hamas condemns unity government ignoring terms of reconciliation agreement

Hamas yesterday condemned the unity government’s decision to call employees who have partaken in “civil disobedience” since 2007 to return to their positions.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that this decision contradicts the national reconciliation agreement, which resulted in the formation of the unity government.

“The agreement stipulates the return of the employees in ‘civil disobedience’ back to their work based on recommendations of an administrational and legal committee to be formed by Fatah and Hamas, not the unity government,” he said.

According to Abu Zuhri, the committee has yet to be formed. He said that the current committee, which was formed by the government, is “illegal”. The committee, according to the agreement, should be formed by 16 members; eight from Hamas and eight from Fatah.

He blamed the government for “its mistaken policy and its consequences”. He said that the government has been ignoring the national agreement and takes the side of a certain party.

Hamas swept Fatah out and controlled the Gaza Strip in mid-2007, ending about 16 months of political, social and security chaos. That date marked the start of the Palestinian internal division.

Palestinian Authority and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas called for public sector employees not to go to work. It was called “civil disobedience” by people in Gaza.