The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) strongly condemns the recent escalation in inter-factional violence in the Palestinian territories. Last week’s killing of four people, including three children, in Gaza followed by Thursday’s shooting attack on the convoy of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyyeh has pushed the so-far moderately intense infighting to alarming and unprecedented levels.
Following Friday prayers in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Hamas sympathizers clashed with armed Palestinian security forces, resulting in the injury of 38 people, six of them in serious condition. The clashes erupted as hundreds of Hamas followers were preparing to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the movement’s inception and were met with opposition by the security forces.
Both Hamas and Fateh have accused the other of inciting towards the infighting, Hamas claiming that Fateh veteran and former interior minister Mohammed Dahlan was behind the assassination attempt against Haniyyeh. Fateh has denied the claims, saying such allegations were an invitation to civil war.
Should the situation continue in this downward spiral, civil war is seemingly inevitable. To avoid such a devastating calamity, MIFTAH calls on both Hamas and Fateh to immediately halt all forms of violence against one another, including verbal accusations. Leaders on both sides must show the highest level of responsibility towards this extremely volatile situation and find quick means of diffusing it before the violence escalates to levels of uncontrollable magnitudes.
MIFTAH also calls on the Palestinian people not to allow factional loyalties to overshadow the greater interests of the people including our common goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state. It also calls on all armed Palestinians to lay down their weapons being used against their fellow countrymen and honor the sanctity of Palestinian blood.
Finally, MIFTAH would like to warn the leaders, factions and people of the grave and disastrous ramifications of a civil war on the Palestinians. Not only will more lives be lost, but our national aspirations will also be sabotaged for many years to come. Our leaders, both from Fateh and Hamas, must not lose perspective by focusing on their short-term goals and interests but must broaden their sights and put the interests of the people first.