by Daniel Siryoti
Power plays within the Gaza-based terrorist group are expected to affect its decision-making process and policies, especially with respect to the conflict with Israel
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Hamas operatives in
the Gaza Strip, Monday
Photo: AP
Senior
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip and Ramallah said Tuesday that
Hamas is plagued with infighting, which in turn could affect its
decision-making process and policies, especially with respect to its
conflict with Israel.
According to senior Hamas officials, the
bickering within the group began several months ago, with the
resignation of Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hamad, who oversaw the
security and intelligence apparatuses in Gaza.
Hamad, a prominent member of the terrorist
group that rules the coastal enclave, was for years considered a
potential successor to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and was greatly
offended when the latter named Izzedine al-Qassam strongman Yahya Sinwar as the military leader in the Strip in February 2017.
Sinwar spared no effort to oust Hamad from
his position of power, prompting him to leave Hamas and announce plans
to found a rival organization, which has yet to be named.
Reuters
Hamad has reportedly been able to convince
dozens of his supporters in Hamas to join his organization, and several
Hamas officials said the bad blood between Hamad and Sinwar "runs deep."
Hamad was named a possible suspect in the failed assassination attempt
of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza City
last month, and Hamas officials said the plot may have had intelligence
and logistical support from individuals in Hamas' intelligence services,
loyal to the former interior minister.
He is also suspected of attempts on the
lives of several other Hamas officials in Gaza, including Gen. Tawfiq
Abu Naim, Hamas' intelligence chief, who was wounded in a shooting
attack in October.
Ramallah sources told Israel Hayom that
dozens of Hamas security officers, including several high-ranking
officials, have been arrested over the past few weeks on suspicion of
aiding Hamad.
"The internal strife within Hamas is
affecting the organization's leadership, its policies and
decision-making process," a senior Hamas official told Israel Hayom.
"The impact is felt on every level – the assassinations in Gaza, the
internal Palestinian reconciliation and the fight against Israel –
everywhere."
Daniel Siryoti
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/04/04/hamas-leadership-mired-in-infighting-as-gaza-israel-tension-mounts/
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