Fatah rejects any external guardianship over Palestinians

 

October in RAMALLAH 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) stated on Saturday that opposition to a unified Palestinian authority would only exacerbate internal divisions and that it would reject any form of external guardianship over the Palestinian people. In a statement, Fatah said international involvement should be confined to monitoring the ceasefire and overseeing reconstruction within a set timeframe. 

 It stressed that security in Gaza must remain under the control of official Palestinian security forces, and that any international troops should be stationed only along the borders under a clear UN Security Council mandate, without infringing on Palestinian sovereignty.

 The movement said the question of Palestinian arms should be resolved within a national framework that ensures a single authority, a unified security force, and the rule of law -- measures it said were essential to internal stability and to denying Israel grounds for further military action or political division.

 Hamas and Fatah, two Palestinian factions, came to an agreement on Friday to form an interim technocratic committee to run Gaza. Following talks in Cairo that were mediated by Egypt, the factions stated that the non-partisan body, which is made up of people from the enclave, would be in charge of essential services and day-to-day affairs. A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States, took effect on Oct.  11.  A prisoner swap, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a portion of the Israeli troop withdrawal make up its first phase. Israel and the United States have demanded Hamas' disarmament and have opposed any future role for the group in governing Gaza. Israel and Hamas have each accused the other of breaking the truce.