Palestinian factions: Egypt’s accusations of Hamas ‘baseless and illegal’

Palestinian factions denounced Egypt’s accusations of Hamas’s involvement in the assassination of late Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat, describing the charges as “oppressive, baseless and illegal,” PalSawa reported yesterday.

In a joint statement, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Al-Ahrar and others, said: “Hamas is a Palestinian resistance movement and its aim is limited to the conflict with the Israeli occupation.”

“All the facts and history prove that Hamas has never interfered or attempted to undermine the security of Egypt or any other Arab or non-Arab countries.”

“We deny the Egyptian accusations which defame the Palestinian resistance and the whole Palestinian people,” the statement said. The groups called on all parties to stop “demonising” Hamas as this serves the interests of the Israeli occupation.

They went on to condemn remarks made by Fatah leaders which support the Egyptian claims, calling on the party to act in a way that serves the Palestinian interest and leads to ending internal division, adding that Egypt should work with Hamas to overcome the problem.