The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movements rejected on Monday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' call for holding dialogue to study the current deteriorated situation in the Gaza Strip.
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas movement's spokesman in Gaza said in a statement sent to reporters that the movement "rejects Abbas call to hold a meeting to discuss the current situation in the Gaza Strip."
"Such meetings aim at convincing the Palestinian resistance to stop its responses to the ongoing Zionist crime committed against our people in the steadfast Gaza Strip," said Barhoum.
On Saturday, Israel began an unprecedented intensive military operation with intensive airstrikes on Hamas movement's targets allover the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 320 people killed and more than 1400 injured so far.
Mohamed Nazzal, a senior Hamas leader, based in Damascus said in a statement sent to reporters that "Hamas would never let them (Abbas) to use such meetings for political propaganda."
"Hamas doesn't oppose any dialogue, but it refuses to get back to the zero beginning," Nazzal said, adding "Abbas calls for dialogue are just slogans and there are no practical steps implemented on the ground," he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will hold talks with leaders of Palestinian factions, including Hamas movement to discuss the current deteriorated situation in the Gaza Strip.
"Now we have to be all united and be one hand in order to stop the aggression on our people in the Gaza Strip," Abbas told reporters as he chaired an emergency meeting of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The Islamic Jihad said in a leaflet "we reject Abbas calls for dialogue, adding that instead of calling for dialogue to study the situation, he should support armed resistance against the Zionist occupation in the West Bank."
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2008)