Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today declared a Hamas security force in Gaza illegal after a surge in internal violence, a move likely to further stoke political tensions.
The governing Hamas militant movement created its so-called "Executive Force" in Gaza in the months after taking power in early 2006 and has defied a previous order by Abbas to integrate personnel into more well-established security organs.
Many recent internal clashes on the streets of the Gaza Strip have been between the Hamas force and security men loyal to Abbas and his once dominant Fatah faction.
"The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas ... considers the executive force, both officers and individuals, illegal and outlawed," a spokesman for Abbas said in a statement.
The spokesman said the Hamas force would remain illegal until it complied with Abbas's previous decision.
Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for the Hamas force, dismissed Abbas's demand.
"We reject the decision, which will only add to tensions in the Palestinian arena. We have not received any formal decision and will not be dismantled easily," Shahwan said.
Internal violence has spiralled since Abbas called for fresh elections to break a political deadlock with Hamas, which trounced Fatah in elections in January 2006.
Hamas says the Executive Force has nearly 6,000 members and will be expanded. Hamas receives funding from Iran and other Islamist allies.