Palestinian factions: PA sanctions on Gaza part of ‘deal of the century’

Sanctions being placed on the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Authority are part of efforts to force Palestinians to accept America’s “deal of the century”, Al-Resalah newspaper reported local factions saying yesterday.

Hamas official Ismail Ridwan said that the PA “is demanded to meet the Palestinians’ humanitarian needs and lift the oppressive measures imposed on the Gaza Strip which come in line with the ‘deal of the century’.”

Meanwhile, Talal Abu-Zarifa, member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), said the PA sanctions “undermine” the “Great March of Return”.

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Speaking to Al-Resalah, Abu-Zarifa said that the PA “must meet the national demands agreed on during the reconciliation, reinforcing the principle of partnership, forming a unity government and preparing for general elections.”

He called for ending the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation and working to take the Israeli occupation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its crimes and violations against the Palestinians.

For his part, Islamic Jihad leader Khader Habib said: “The PA sanctions on Gaza are not national and they are imposed to tighten the siege on the Palestinians in Gaza and bring them to their knees,” stressing that this “will never succeed to break the Palestinian will.”

There are “big conspiracies being plotted to liquidate the Palestinian cause and undermine the Palestinian rights and the ‘Great Return March’, which united the Palestinians,” he added.

READ: ‘Deal of the Century’ is not new and the PA leadership is not a victim