Hamas will not renew a calm with Israel in the Gaza Strip that expires later this month, said a statement issued in the Syrian capital on Sunday. "There will be no renewal of the calm after it expires," the statement quoted Khaled Meshaal, the movement's exiled leader, as telling a Hamas television station.
On his part, the ex-Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas stated in the Gaza Strip on Sunday that the Palestinians did not benefit from the six-month calm deal with Israel, which Egypt brokered in June. "Israel did not commit to the calm as 20 Palestinians were victimized during one month. Other Palestinian factions have a negative impression about such a calm, as Hamas has not observed a genuine supervision of the deal", Haniyeh told crowds of supporters in Gaza city.
Speaking before hundreds of thousands of Hamas supporters, who gathered to celebrate the Islamic movement's 21st anniversary in Gaza city on Sunday, Haniyeh said the movement would not recognize Mahmoud Abbas as the PA chief once his term ends in January. Haniyeh also called for general election in the Palestinian territories, saying the movement was "afraid of no election."
