Hamas on Monday dismissed the idea of forming a joint Palestinian security force in the Gaza Strip. According to Salah al-Bardawil, spokesman for Hamas' parliamentary bloc, any understanding on the formation of a new security unit as part of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation talks would have to apply to all the occupied territories.
"The correct way to address the security issue is to rehabilitate the security apparatus in the West Bank and Gaza on a basis of professionalism and patriotism," he said, according to AFP. "Any deal that limits an agreement on security forces to the Gaza Strip clearly means giving a certificate of good conduct to the security services in the West Bank and their role in fighting the resistance," he added.
Bardawil highlighted the need for reaching a package agreement implemented simultaneously in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, rejecting the efforts to dictate Fatah point of view regarding the elections.
As for the news reports that Egypt would pressure Palestinian factions to reach a reconciliation before the end of next month, the Hamas lawmaker stressed that this an Egyptian stance, adding that Cairo voiced concern about the long period which the Palestinians were taking to reach an agreement.
