Nothing will hinder the reconciliation: Gaza security forces chief

CAIRO – 29 October 2017: The Director General of the Internal Security Forces in the Gaza Strip, Tawfiq Abu Naim, said on Sunday that Hamas is committed to ending the decade long Palestinian split and achieving the reconciliation. He added that his failed assassination attempt on Friday will not deter Hamas from moving forward towards on the reconciliation path.

Abu Naim said to Egypt Today on Sunday that his health condition is stable and he thanked Egypt for its continuous support to the Palestinian cause. “We thank Egypt, the people and government, for their noble and great support for the Palestinian people. We are very proud and honored by Egypt’s position towards the Palestinian cause.”

The Gaza internal security forces chief survived a failed assassination attempt following Friday prayers. His car was blown up in the Nusseirat refugee camp, in the middle governorate of the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by the ministry of interior. The ministry added in its statement that Abu Naim’s car exploded leaving him with moderate wounds on his back and head. The security services immediately began investigations to discover the circumstances of the incident and to arrest the perpetrators.

Both Hamas and Fatah condemned the incident and blamed it on parties aiming to undermine the reconciliation.

Abu Naim was a former Israeli prisoner; he was freed in 2011 along with hundreds of others in exchange for the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

In October, the rival Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo under Egypt’s auspices. The Palestinian National Authority is due to resume control of the Gaza Strip by December 1 as per the reconciliation agreement.