Hamas authorities in Gaza are combining the police with the Executive Force militia, according to Tahir An-Nounou, spokesman for the Hamas authority. He told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency the reason for the merger is the fight against drug smuggling along the Mediterranean Coast.
He also called on Fatah to resume dialogue with Hamas in order to end the current separation of the Gaza area from the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Judea and Samaria. Talks between the two factions have been stalemated, and Israel and the United States have publicly warned Fatah leaders not to return to a unity agreement with Hamas.