Palestinian factions discuss withdrawal of PA’s officers from Rafah crossing with Egypt

Palestinian factions yesterday started talks with Egypt regarding the withdrawal of the Palestinian Authority (PA) officers from the Rafah crossing, Quds Press reported.

All Palestinian factions condemned the PA decision to withdraw its officers from the Rafah crossing stressing that “it is negative”.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Talal Abu-Zarifa said: “The Palestinian factions are in contact with Egypt in order to put pressure on the PA to rescind its decision, which cut short the way ahead of ending the internal division.”

Speaking to Quds Press, he added: “Such measures taken by the PA negatively affect the Palestinians and serve the Israeli occupation, as well as harming the interests of the Palestinian residents and lead to a gradual separation [between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank].”

READ: Palestinian Authority pulls employees from Egypt-Gaza crossing

Ahmad Bahar, the deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament, said: “This is a dangerous measure taken by the PA. It paves the way ahead of separating Gaza from the West Bank as a prelude to the ‘deal of the century’,” in reference to the US Middle East peace plan.

In a statement, Hamas said: “The PA decision is part of the punitive measures imposed by Mahmoud Abbas on the besieged Gaza Strip.”

Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad said: “The PA exploits the needs of the Gaza residents to fuel its own differences, as well as to impose its political vision on the Palestinian people.”

On Monday, the PA withdrew its officers from the Rafah crossing. Consequently, the Egyptian authorities announced the closure of the crossing for those travelling out of Gaza. They said that they would keep it open only for Gaza residents stranded abroad.