Hamas calls for end of 'exclusion' to face Israel's annexation plan

Hamas yesterday announced the launch of a series of national events to confront the Israeli plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.

Salah Al-Bardawil, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, said during a press conference in Gaza that the activities come within the framework of “an initiative to encourage Palestinian people to join a broad national front that has multiple functions and tasks in facing the occupation and the US plans.”

He called for “unifying the Palestinian front”, as “it is considered one of the pillars of resistance, in the sense of maintaining the principle of partnership in decision-making (…) away from exclusivity and exclusion.”

Al-Bardawil called on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) to withdraw its recognition of Israel and to disengage from the Oslo Accords.

READ: 100 law experts warn against Israel’s annexation of West Bank

He also stressed the necessity of “agreeing on a national strategy based on resisting the occupation in its different manifestations and permanently suspending security coordination with Israel.”

The Israeli government is planning to annex the Jordan Valley and settlements in the West Bank on 1 July.

Palestinian estimates indicate that the Israeli annexation plan will cover more than 30 per cent of the West Bank.

In response to his announcement, the Palestinian Authority said that it is no longer bound by all agreements with Israel, including those relating to security.