Recently surfacing signs suggest that Gaza Strip’s ruling party Hamas is moving towards accusing the Palestinian Authority and its affiliates of involvement in the assassination attempt on the life of Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah.
Head of General Intelligence Majid Faraj in the Gaza Strip is among those thought by Hamas to have been involved.
Despite Hamas’ inclination to point fingers towards the PA, there exists evidence tying the attempt to extremist militias.
Hamas officials said they were preparing to accuse specific parties in Ramallah within a few days of announcing the end of the probe into the assassination attempt, which deepened Palestinian divisions.
The PA, in turn, blamed Hamas for the assassination attempt.
“PA officials insistence on stepping up their accusations against Hamas and their refusal to wait for the results of the investigation reflect a real crisis due to the exposure of crime details confirming their direct involvement,” Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.
Barhoum's statement is not surprising in light of hints that Hamas leaders have resorted to blaming external parties since news of the assassination attempt first broke out.
They spoke of a “play” to “disavow reconciliation” or “try to polish an alternative leadership.”
But Barhoum’s statement is the first direct and explicit suggestion of PA's direct involvement.
His accusations came at a time when Hamas confirmed that the coming days would reveal “the true beneficiaries of the attack targeting the convoy of Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah."
“The beneficiaries of the bombing seek to torpedo reconciliation and strike security in Gaza,” he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas of being behind the attempted assassination of Hamdallah and Faraj and vowed to take "national, legal and financial measures" against the Gaza Strip.
Abbas also attacked Hamas in an unprecedented manner, directing “big and small” threats.
