GAZA CITY, April 2: Palestinian interior minister Said Siam vowed on Sunday that his Hamas-led government would put an end to armed chaos and impunity after three people were killed in clashes between rival militants. “We will ensure that nobody is above the law and demand an end to the instability and armed chaos,” Siam said in reference to Friday’s clashes in the Gaza Strip that also left 36 people wounded after the assassination of a militant commander.
“We are giving the security forces all the authority and power to investigate this ugly crime (the assassination of the militant commander) and also the three killings and other casualties that followed,” he said, referring to a commission of inquiry set up late Friday.
Later addressing a news conference in Gaza City, Siam ruled out any security cooperation with Israel at a national level but did say he was not opposed to coordinating with the Jewish state on day-to-day matters.
“We are against any security cooperation with Israel at the national level,” Siam said, four days after taking office.
But the minister added that he was not opposed to cooperation with the Jewish state on daily matters such as water, electricity and health matters.
Israel, like the West, has refused to deal with the new Palestinian government unless the movement recognises its right to exist, “renounces violence” and commits to peace agreements signed in the past by the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has imposed crushing economic sanctions against the Palestinian administration, refusing to transfer customs duties collected on its behalf.
