The reconciliation of Fatah and Hamas and the formation of a unity government is the reason behind Israeli offensive on the Gaza strip, said Aqsa Syarif chairman associate professor Dr. Hafidzi Mohd Noor.
“The peace talks between the two factions failed previously because both parties refused to budge with their demands and once they had managed to reconcile, Israel sees it as a threat.”
“Israel knows that a unity government will challenge and cause many issues that will create trouble for them,” he told Astro AWANI today.
The two rival Palestinian movements formed a unity government in June 2014, to end a decade long dispute and violence.
President Mahmoud Abbas, who swore in the government at a brief ceremony at his office at West Bank , saw the formation of a new cabinet comprising 17 technocrat members, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
In 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip from Abbas' Fatah and removed Fatah officials.
The battle resulted in division of the Palestinian territories into two entities, the West Bank, which is governed by the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza governed by Hamas.
The formation of a unity government is seen as a momentous step toward ending a political split that has weakened the Palestinian case to form a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem - lands that Israel captured in 1967.
On Wednesday, Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed 20 people including four women and four children, bringing the total death toll to 70 since the military operations started three days ago.
Dr. Hafidzi, however said the power struggle in Israel between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is expected to further aggravate the situation in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Lieberman announced he was ending a political alliance with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, Dr. Hafidzi added, wants to be seen as a ‘hero’ among Israelis by intensifying the attacks on Gaza.
“Each of them wants to prove that they are trying to protect the Israel people.”
“The dispute between two leaders is wide open and the attempt to rally support of Israelis is reflected in the Gaza attack.”
The kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, allegedly by the Palestinians, also provided justification to the attacks, he added.
“But what Israel does not recognize is that all these while, they had imprisoned and killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, including children," he concluded.
Wan Syamsul Amly
Thu Jul 10 2014
A Palestine unity government is the reason behind intensified Gaza attacks, said Aqsa Syarif - Filepic
Piala Uber: Tiada daya juang tinggi, Rexy kesal dengan pemain perseorangan wanita negara
Kem perseorangan wanita negara perlu memiliki semangat juang tinggi sekiranya mahu mencabar pemain lain dalam saingan antarabangsa selepas ini.
Anwar zahir rasa kecewa dengan perkembangan mutakhir di Gaza
Anwar berkata isu kemanusiaan di Gaza kerap disuarakannya setiap pertemuan dengan mana-mana pemimpin antarabangsa.
Sempena Hari Pekerja, PM Anwar ulas isu semasa sepanjang 17 bulan mentadbir Malaysia
Saksikan Program Soal Jawab bersama Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Saluran 501 dan semua platform media sosial Astro AWANI
Madinah dilanda bah teruk
Banjir kilat yang bermula pada Isnin melanda wilayah Al-Ula dan Madinah dengan menyaksikan kenderaan hampir tenggelam dan dihanyutkan arus deras.
Usah terlalu bergantung kepada beras import, Sabah perlu tingkat SSL - Hajiji
Pada 17 April lepas, Kabinet negeri bersetuju menghidupkan semula Lembaga Padi dan Beras Sabah bagi memacu usaha itu.
Lanno Valley diarah tutup bagi tujuan keselamatan - MDBG
Landskap kawasan dikelilingi aktiviti kuari yang aktif dalam radius kurang dari 600 meter itu memberi risiko keselamatan kepada pengunjung.
AWANI Ringkas: Bela nasib pekerja | Gaji penjawat awam bakal diperincikan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PM Anwar gesa segerakan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Pekerja Gig
Beliau berkata adalah penting untuk memberi perhatian dan keprihatinan yang lebih kepada pekerja bagi sektor berkenaan.
Kesuma percepat penubuhan Suruhanjaya Pekerja Gig, laporan interim Jun ini
Steven Sim berkata kajian sedang dilakukan dengan kerjasama Universiti Malaya (UM) sebelum laporan interim dijangka dibentangkan kepada Kabinet menjelang 1 Jun ini.
Malaysia tutup kempen Piala Uber dengan kemenangan 4-1 ke atas Australia
Malaysia mendahului dalam perlawanan pembukaan menerusi pemain perseorangan wanita profesional negara Goh Jin Wei yang menewaskan Tiffany Ho, 21-6, 21-12.
Tune Talk, Afdlin Shauki lancar sim kad "Bebaskan Palestin"
Dalam usaha menambah dana kepada Gaza, Afdlin Shauki bersama syarikat komunikasi Tune Talk melancarkan sim kad "Bebaskan Palestin".
25 sukarelawan sertai misi terbaru ke Gaza
Aqsa Syarif akan menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan kepada rakyat Palestin di Gaza, membabitkan 26 sukarelawan.