Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal Gaza -  Mohammed Habib The Palestinian movement Fatah has accused its political rival Hamas of escalating a campaign of arrests against Fatah members, and using violence against Palestinian citizens in Gaza Strip.?
In a statement released on Saturday, Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assaf said: “The actions of Hamas in Gaza, which are ?accompanied by unjustified media campaign, are not a good sign, and recent days have seen an ?escalation in arrest operations against Fatah members.”?
Assaf also accused Hamas of attempting to cover up its interference in the Egyptian internal affairs, saying the movement put the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood, be it in Syria or in Egypt, above the interests of Palestine.?
Hamas denies meddling in the affairs of Egypt or any of its neighbouring countries.
The Fatah spokesman also claimed Hamas intends to obstruct reconciliation between the two movements, saying it seeks instead to increase political division among Palestinians.? Hamas blame Fatah for the delay in achieving reconciliation, saying it remains committed to reaching a resolution between the two rival factions.
Regarding prospects for after August 14, the date agreed upon by Hamas and ?Fatah to announce the formation of a national consensus government, Assaf said: “We have reconciliation agreements ?and we are committed to all their details, and the absolute majority of the people and factions are ?committed too. Hamas is standing in one side, and the people in the other.”?
Assaf called on Hamas to embrace reconciliation, or the Palestinian people and ?leadership will remain “prisoners of Hamas’ interests” which has become a heavy burden on the ?people and hindered liberating Palestine, he said.?
Fatah’s warnings coincide with a far-reaching arrest operation by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, mostly in the north, during the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr this week.