Gaza – Ramallah - Ma'an - Angry protestors have broken into the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah and set it ablaze in an angry response to the events in Gaza which have now resulted in the deaths of four and more than 50 injuries. Ma'an's reporter stated that the fire has caused significant damage to the building of the PLC.
The Fatah movement and the Hamas movement have exchanged accusations of blame after clashes erupted between the Executive Force of the Ministry of the Interior, and members of the Palestinian security services that were protesting against the non-payment of salaries.
The former Palestinian minister Nabil Amro blamed the Interior Minister, Said Siyam, for the events in Gaza quoting Siyam as saying 'We must prevent the rebellion by force if necessary, no matter what the cost is'.
Amir called for a meeting between the Palestinian factions to find a solution and to withdraw all forces from the streets saying, 'Their forces must not intervene to suppress the demonstrations, and must not be subjected to force and weapons'.
Hamas launched an attack in response, criticising the officials and the spokesmen of the Fatah movement, describing their political and media speeches as 'low.'
A mass demonstration of Fatah supporters has taken place in the city of Ramallah, with protestors setting fire to tires. The Al Aqsa Brigades issued a statement threatening reprisals against symbols of Hamas in the West Bank in response to the Hamas aggression in Gaza.
The demands of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, are twofold: (i) The withdrawal of the Executive Force from the streets of Gaza within 24 hours; and (ii) President Mahmoud Abbas must prosecute Interior Minister Said Siyam for giving orders to kill members of the security services and citizens in Gaza.
The Brigades have threatened to target all institutions of the Hamas government and its leadership in the West Bank if Executive Forces remain on the streets of Gaza. The Brigades have also called on all of its activists throughout the country to be on a state of alert and prepared to respond 'to any emergency… to any massacres that are carried out by the Ministry of Interior and the government of Hamas against our people in Gaza'.
The protestors in Ramallah shouted slogans demanding the impeachment of the Hamas government, in particular the Minister of Interior. Protestors attempted to break into the office of the Hamas movement in the city, but were prevented by senior Fatah members. The demonstration then headed to the PLC headquarters in the city to deliver their message of protest.