The Hamas-led cabinet sent its security back into the streets of Gaza on Saturday, a day after withdrawing it to help calm a standoff with forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas' Fatah movement said the deployment raised the chances of new fighting.
According to the AP, Fatah officials added the latest move threatened negotiations on the president's ultimatum to Hamas to accept a plan that would implicitly recognize Israel.
Youssef Zahar, spokesman for the Hamas force, said Saturday's deployment did not contradict the previous day's decision. At the time, Hamas said the force would remain on standby at fixed locations and resume limited patrols in the future. "The police stations are closed to us, so we're making use of some streets," Zahar said.
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, however, said the return of the Hamas force, even in small numbers, was "unacceptable and illegal." "The lack of its presence on the streets yesterday brought great relief. Their return signals the possibility of new friction," he said.
