Turning Gazas lights back on, Abbas rival Dahlan makes dramatic return to center stage

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3. Hamas leader confirms alliance with Muhammad Dahlan against PA

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Hamas politburo deputy chairman in the besieged Gaza Strip Khalil al-Hayya called on Sunday for the establishment of a “national rescue front” to challenge the Palestinian Authority (PA), confirming the Islamist movement's collaboration with discharged Fatah leader Muhammad Dahlan.

Al-Hayya, who was elected to the position in February, slammed the Fatah-led PA for its recent decision to request that Israel reduce its supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip, expected to have disastrous effects on Gaza's two million inhabitants and endanger the medical sector in particular.

"We won't stand idly by as these practices lead to deprivation of medicine," al-Hayya said in a statement. "This policy unites us all in Gaza and consolidates our belief that our plight is being hijacked by (PA President) Mahmoud Abbas."

Fatah and Hamas have been in conflict since the Hamas movement won Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006 by a landslide and wrestled control of the Gaza Strip a year later.

Following Hamas’ takeover, Israel imposed a stringent blockade on the small Palestinian territory that marked its ten-year anniversary earlier this month, amid an ever-worsening humanitarian situation.

Al-Hayya added that Hamas had agreed to cooperate with longtime Abbas rival Dahlan in order “to work together on social interests after Abbas crippled those interests."

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