Hamas spokesman Islam Shahwan has denied a charge by the rival Fatah faction that it plans to extend its Executive Force terrorist militia into Judea and Samaria. He called the PA accusations "baseless and incorrect."
Hamas has more than doubled its militia in Gaza, to more than 13,000, since it took over the area by force last month. Hamas previously has charged that Israel and Fatah work together to weaken Hamas in Judea and Samaria. Israel has asked the leader of Fatah, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, to boycott Hamas.