The Palestinian Authority condemned Hamas' statement in which the organization revealed it had opened a communication channel with the U.S. administration.
The Israeli media, Haaretz, quoted Palestinian political sources as saying that the condemnation “indicates the depth of the crisis between the PA and Hamas”.
“The PA is also disappointed with Trump's Lebanese adviser, Massad Boulos, who adopted the Israeli government's narrative without mentioning the Palestinian position”, the newspaper added, whereas Boulos “is supposed to serve as Abbas' channel to the White House”.
The PA's statement, issued by spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh on Monday, did not mention the United States explicitly, but said that Hamas insists on dividing the Palestinian national position by opening communication channels with "foreign entities" and negotiating with them without a national mandate, noted Haaretz.
The PA urged Hamas to end the division and hand over control of the Gaza strip based on the principle of one law, one weapon, and one legitimate political representation.
Hamas has not yet responded to the PA's statement, but sources in the Palestinian political arena, quoted by Haaretz, said the announcement illustrates the isolation of the PA and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, in light of both direct and indirect contacts with Hamas that do not involve the PA or consider its future in the West Bank or Gaza.
A senior Palestinian official in Ramallah also said that it is unlikely that the Egyptian-Arab plan will be implemented in the near future and that, in the meantime, any agreement to bring aid into Gaza and extend the cease-fire would strengthen Hamas' grip on the ground, wrote Haaretz.
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