Hamas: Banning West Bank protests violates law, freedoms

Hamas yesterday called the Palestinian Authority’s prevention of demonstrations in the occupied West Bank a continuation of its violation of Palestinian law.

The movement’s spokesman, Hazem Qassem, added that the PA’s decision is a continuation of its policy of repressing freedoms and its denial of the right of the public to express their opinion on national issues.

He pointed out that the decision reveals the PA’s attempts to silence the voices which reject criminal sanctions, and indicates its intention to continue these punitive measures.

Earlier yesterday, the adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas, issued a statement prohibiting the organisation of marches or the establishment of gatherings in the occupied West Bank.

According to the statement issued by the Palestine news agency Wafa, it is prohibited to grant permits to organise marches or the establishment of gatherings that may disrupt and confuse the regular movement of citizens, and affect the course of normal life during Eid Al-Fitr holidays this weekend.

Hamas: We have a right to respond to Israel’s crimes

Hundreds of politicians and intellectuals had protested in the occupied West Bank calling for an end to the sanctions placed on the besieged Gaza Strip, and raised banners in solidarity with the Strip and the resistance.

The PA has imposed a number of penalties on the Strip including the nonpayment of civil employees’ salaries, providing insufficient medical provisions and reducing or at during some periods halting electricity payments for supplies reaching the Strip.