The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, MIFTAH is gravely concerned with the recent and unfortunate events that transpired in the Gaza Strip, which has left nine people dead and over 120 others injured including children.

MIFTAH views the abhorrent infighting between the security forces under the deposed Hamas-government in Gaza and Fateh namely in the Shuja’iyeh quarter of Gaza City as extremely serious and damaging to the Palestinian national project as a whole. The killing of nine people and the injury of over 100 others at the hands of Palestinians can only lead to further fractures within our society and increased enmity between rival factions.

MIFTAH calls on all parties involved to halt the fighting, arrests and incitement against each other. It also calls on Hamas to allow those who fled the fighting to return safely to their homes and to utilize legitimate and civilized channels for pursuing transgressors or those suspected in any unlawful acts.

It is imperative that both Hamas and Fateh heed President Abbas’ call to release all political prisoners taken into custody since July 25 and to immediately restore calm and stability to the Palestinian territories. Such insane infighting is extremely damaging to the Palestinians and to their cause. Palestinians should never raise arms against fellow Palestinians and must adhere to civilized means of negotiations rather than the destructive path some have chosen.

MIFTAH calls on the leadership of Hamas to reevaluate its methods of control in the Gaza Strip, which are counterproductive to their declared purpose of national liberation. It also calls on Fateh to encourage inter-factional dialogue in order to return to a state of national unity. Both sides must refrain from further arbitrary arrests and should release those already incarcerated in Gaza and West Bank prisons.

Both Hamas and Fateh, as major political players in the Palestinian arena, should be positive catalysts for furthering the Palestinian national project rather than tools of its destruction.