HAMAS HANDS OVER BORDER CROSSINGS
GAZA, PALESTINIAN TERRITORY The Islamic militant group Hamas on Wednesday handed over control of Gaza’s border crossings with Israel and Egypt to the Palestinian Authority, taking the first tangible step toward implementing a reconciliation deal with the rival Fatah movement.
After a decade of Hamas rule, the group’s security forces and border control agents were seen pulling away from the Gaza crossings. Representatives of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority then took up positions.
“From now on, we have no relationship with crossings and our employees are not present inside them,” said Mohammed Abu Zaid, the Hamas-appointed director of crossing points.
Hamas seized control from the Fatah- led forces of the Palestinian Authority in 2007. But after a decade of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, Hamas’ new leadership says the group is no longer interesting in governing Gaza.