GAZA (Dispatches) – The Hamas resistance movement has slammed the formation of a new Palestinian government for deepening the internal division.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy chief of Hamas and a member in Hamas' politburo, said the new government of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye "is very far from any Palestinian national accord or any legal measure."
"We were hoping and will hope to go for a national unity government that will be a salvation government that rescues the current national Palestinian status," said al-Hayya in a press statement.
On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in the new government headed by a loyalist from his Fatah party, Mohammad Shtayyeh.
The 21-member cabinet only includes ministers from factions affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), primarily Fatah, but excludes Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement.
Hayya also criticized the new Palestinian government as "a separatist government that doesn't include all factions and political powers."
"This government was made to empower the internal Palestinian division and again proves that there is no return to a real national unity," the Hamas deputy chief concluded.
Hamas also said such a government will ease the way for the imposition of the United States’ yet-to-be-unveiled proposal on the Zionist-Palestinian conflict.
The so-called deal of the century, drawn up by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to address the conflict, is said to be hugely in favor of the Zionist regime.
Hamas underlined the need to form an inclusive national unity government, which serves all Palestinian people and puts an end to the oppression they have been enduring.
The new government should invite Palestinian leaders to agree upon a national strategy to fight off all challenges facing the Palestine issue, the resistance group noted.
Shtayyeh is seen as a critic of Hamas and a proponent of Zionist-Palestinian talks.
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Maldenov has welcomed the formation of the new Palestinian government, saying he was looking forward to cooperating with the team.
"At a time of significant financial and political challenges to the Palestinian national project, all must support the government’s efforts and work to overcome internal divisions. Unity is essential to advancing the goal of a lasting peace,” he said in a statement.
He further expressed the UN's commitment "to working with the Palestinian leadership and people in ending the occupation and advancing their legitimate national aspirations for statehood based on UN resolutions."
The Palestinian leadership has been divided between Fatah and Hamas since 2006, when the latter scored a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in Gaza.
Ever since, Hamas has been running the coastal enclave, while Fatah has been based in the autonomous parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.