Abbas holding model of area he wants for Pal.
Abbas holding model of area he wants for Pal.Israel news photo: palwatch.org

 

Hamas, which recently invited Palestinian Authority chief and Fatah terror movement head Mahmoud Abbas to visit Gaza, is now threatening to harm him if he accepts the invitation.
 
According to the Bethlehem-based Maan news agency, Gaza "security forces" handed in a "secret report" about the planned visit to Ismail Haniyeh, who rules Gaza on behalf of Hamas. The report says that the personal safety of Abbas cannot be guaranteed, should he enter Gaza.
 
 
The report's timing, content and its immediate leak to the press indicate that Hamas is warning Abbas not to come to Gaza.
 
This is a somewhat surprising development, seeing as it was Haniyeh who invited Abbas to visit in the first place. 
 
The report says that it will be difficult to protect Abbas from harm if he tours Gaza, and that he will be "in real danger" on such a visit. The people who may try to harm Abbas, according to the report, are relatives of victims of the Fatah "security forces" who want revenge against him. The victims were hurt or killed by Abbas' forces before, during or after the June 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza.
 
There are press reports that say the idea of a visit by Abbas was nixed by the Hamas leadership in Syria. Recent protests in Gaza and Ramallah called for a reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas terror militias.