Hamas: No side must be excluded when governing Gaza's borders

Hamas said that any committee formed by the Palestinian unity government to take over control of Gaza’s border crossings must be formed as a “partnership”.

The movement’s spokesperson Fawzy Barhoom said in a press statement yesterday that any committee established by the Palestinian unity government must be established on the basis of partnership, without excluding any side.

“We call on the unity government to take up its responsibility regarding the Gaza Strip, but this must take place on the basis of partnership, and the committee must establish a new political reality… in which no side would exclude the other.”

On Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah formed a committee to arrange for taking over control of all border crossings in the Gaza Strip under the leadership of the Hussein Al-Sheikh, the head of the Civil Affairs Department in the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian unity government has not taken over any of its responsibilities in Gaza due to political differences between Hamas and Fatah.

Gaza has six border crossings, including four with Israel – which have been totally closed since 2007 following Hamas’s takeover of Gaza. Israel allows individuals to exit and enter Gaza via the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing in the north of the Strip. Karam Abu Salem crossing is the only crossing designated for commercial use, it is governed by Israel. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt is sometimes open.

Gaza’s three border crossings are currently run by officers from Hamas’s government as the movement had ruled the Strip since it took control of it in June 2007.

The enclave remains under a siege imposed by Israel in spite of Hamas giving up control of the Strip as part of the formation of the unity government.