Fatah members in Gaza are finding it difficult to express even their kinder, gentler feelings in socially acceptable ways.
Hamas has forbidden Palestinian Authority (PA) residents from "bringing flowers" or otherwise expressing consolation to someone who is sick or wounded in Gaza, if the visitor identifies himself as a Fatah member.
According to Fatah sources quoted in a report published Tuesday in the PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's faction was declared an "illegal organization" by the ruling rival Hamas terrorist group.
Hamas "threatened them with kidnapping and torture should any activities on behalf of the movement be carried out in the [Gaza] Strip, even in the case of humanitarian activities," said the report, which was translated by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) watchdog organization.
"The [Fatah] movement has revealed that Hamas has summoned a number of Fatah activists for interrogation and warned them of the consequences of helping any sick or wounded [person] or expressing consolation to any person, if they identify themselves as members of the Fatah movement.
"Fatah added that Hamas has warned the people of the movement [working] in the field and who carry out social and humanitarian activities and forbidden them [to perform] any social activities, sports activities and to bring humanitarian aid to [those who] need it. ...
"The sources pointed out that the activists have been subjected to threats and have been updated on the prohibition against issuing any consolation announcements of any kind, be it signs, bringing roses to the sick or any greeting in the name of Fatah.
"The sources drew attention to the fact that Hamas has refused to give the activists of the movement any piece of written paper stating the prohibition of the [Fatah] movement explicitly, but has settled for verbal decrees."
Arab foreign ministers are set to meet Wednesday in Cairo to discuss the continuing feud between Hamas and Fatah, as well as the negotiations between Israel and the PA, and the blockade of the Gaza crossings, which are closed every time Gaza terrorists fire rockets at Israel.
The meeting, which has been organized by Arab League head Amr Moussa, is aimed primarily at getting reconciliation talks back on track between Fatah and Hamas and stabilizing the internal situation in the PA.