Palestinians wary of talk Gaza may be declared 'rebel district'

The poor living conditions and security situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip could further deteriorate if Palesinian President Mahmoud Abbas declares Gaza a "rebel district."
A protester holds a Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest against reducing power supply to Gaza, near the border with Israel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip June 20, 2017. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RTS17WD5
A protester holds a Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest against reducing the power supply to Gaza, near the border with Israel in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, June 20, 2017. - REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
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Ahmed el-Komi

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Recent reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pondering drastic measures against Hamas has heightened fears in Gaza. On June 15, the daily Israel Hayom quoted an unnamed senior Palestinian official as saying that Abbas is considering declaring the coastal enclave a "rebel district" soon.

The official, a close associate of Abbas, said that president is using the move against Hamas in the internal Palestinian conflict to pressure the movement to hand control of Gaza over to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

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