The Prime Minister of the partially recognized Palestinian state, Mohammad Mustafa, has stated that to restore security in the war-torn Gaza Strip, Hamas must disarm and hand over control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
"Israel must completely withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas must relinquish power in the region and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority," Mustafa said at a conference at the UN headquarters in New York dedicated to the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Recall that after Hamas's victory in the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections, a sharp confrontation began between it and the Fatah movement, which rules the authority. The international community did not recognize the legitimacy of the Hamas government due to its recognition of Israel, condemnation of violence, and consistent rejection of previously signed agreements. Tensions between Hamas and Fatah quickly escalated into open conflict.
In June 2007, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in a brief but brutal military campaign, driving out Fatah forces. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that at least 118 people were killed and more than 550 injured in the week-long fighting. Since then, the Palestinian Authority has been effectively divided: Hamas has established its government in Gaza, while Fatah has retained control of the West Bank.
