Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared today that the security force established by the Palestinian Minister of Interior, Sa’id Siyam, under Hamas’ leadership, is illegal. Abbas aides said that the decision was taken "…in light of continued security chaos and assassinations that got to a number of our fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens."

The decision, which may intensify the already high tensions between Fateh and Hamas, comes 2 days after members of the Executive Force killed a senior security official from the Fateh-loyal Palestinian Preventive Security apparatus, and 7 of his bodyguards, in Gaza City.