- The Palestinian National Autonomous Authority (PNA) on Sunday (23/7) issued a call for unity on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the face of increased clashes with Israel over Al-Aqsa Mosque. PNA spokesman Tariq Rishmawi said in a press statement that Hamas, which has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007, should respond to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' ideas for unity. This is by surrendering the control of all government agencies in the Gaza Strip to the PNA. "Hamas must always remember the interests of the Palestinian people to be a priority before seeking the interests of the group," Rishmawi said, as quoted by Xinhua on Monday morning. He added, "What is happening in Jerusalem and in our shrine should make us all united." Palestinian, Arab and international mediation efforts throughout the decade have failed to end the dispute between Hamas and Abbas' s Fatah Party, which controls the West Bank of the Jordan River. On Friday, Abbas called on Hamas to respond to its call for unity by disarming the Gaza Strip's Administrative Committee, allowing the PNA to operate a government agency, and approving a special date for the holding of elections. Meanwhile, Hamas said in a press release that the organization reached out to Fatah and Abbas to unite and end internal divisions in line with previous understanding and agreement. "Hamas is calling for an agreement on a national urgent strategy to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque and confront the occupation (by Israel) and defend the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to the end of the occupation and to establish our country," he said. Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have increased since July 14, when Israel set up checkpoints and installed metal detectors at the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex. Since then, clashes have raged between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters at the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex and elsewhere in the West Bank. In clashes during a major protest on Friday, Israeli security forces killed three Palestinians and wounded hundreds.
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