The reasons behind Abbas' all-or-nothing Gaza policy

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's deputy, Khalil al-Hiyya, criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Aug. 30 for his refusal to reconcile with Hamas and remove another obstacle on the road to an arrangement with Israel.

In a speech in Gaza, Al-Hiyya said, “The only ones who insist on not removing the siege are Fatah and Abbas.” Al-Hiyya, who was a part of the Hamas delegation to the recent talks in Cairo, added that the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah is working against the interests of the Palestinian people residing in Gaza. Later in his speech, he hinted that the Palestinian Authority is interested in leading Hamas to an armed conflict with Israel, because if no cease-fire is reached, Hamas’ struggle against the siege will intensify.