(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement said it held Islamist group Hamas responsible for a wave of bomb attacks against the homes of Fatah leaders in Gaza yesterday.
"The Fatah central committee condemns the crimes which took place this morning against its leaders and lays the responsiblity for these crimes upon Hamas," senior Fatah official Nasser Al Qidwa told a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Hussein Al Sheikh, another member of the Fatah leadership, said he had "no doubt of the fact that Hamas bears the responsibility for what happened to Fatah leaders in Gaza."
At least 10 explosions hit houses and cars belonging to senior Fatah members but no casualties were reported.
Hamas condemned the explosions as a "criminal" act and ordered those who carried them out to be brought to justice.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has cancelled a visit to Gaza planned for today after a wave of bombings hit Fatah property in the territory, government spokesman Ihab Bseiso said.
Hamdallah had been due to meet in Gaza with the European Union's new foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.
An EU spokesman said that Mogherini "still plans to go to Gaza," where she will meet Gaza-based Palestinian cabinet ministers and UN relief agency staff.
She will meet Hamdallah in the West Bank city of Ramallah today evening before holding talks with Abbas, he added.
The explosions came days ahead of the 10th anniversary of the death of former Palestinian president and Fatah leader Yasser Arafat, a memorial that has lead to tensions between Fatah and Hamas, the Islamist group that dominates Gaza.
Senior Fatah official Abdallah Abu Samhadana said the November 11 commemoration would go ahead despite the explosions, one of which targeted the wooden stage where the event is to be held.
"No one will deter us from holding the event, regardless of what explosions and terror they commit," Samhadana said in a statement carried on the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
"Before last night there were signals and declarations by Hamas against Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas, of which the most significant was that of a group of Hamas military officials who said they were going to torpedo planned commemorations of the death of Yasser Arafat," Fatah official Azzam Al Ahmad said in Ramallah.
Hamas and Fatah agreed in April to form a "reconciliation" government, an effort to overcome deep political rifts that date back to 2007, when Hamas seized power in Gaza after a weeks-long civil war with Fatah.
It was not clear who carried out yesterday's attacks, but a letter left at the scene of one of the blasts was signed by Islamic State. Fatah sources said they doubted the letter was authentic and more likely an attempt by attackers to spread fear and cover for their true identity.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.