"Why is Hamas preventing Fattah from arming themselves and fighting Israel?" questions Fatah high official

Video posted on the Facebook page of Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi

Visual:

The video shows an interview with Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi on Quds News Network TV.

Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi: “[Hamas] says ‘the weapons of the resistance’? We are protecting the weapons of the resistance more than others are protecting the weapons of the resistance. Let no one ask the weapons of the resistance-the resistance to hand over its weapons, or to put them in storehouses. This is completely unacceptable. Who said we are against resistance? We are in favor of resistance in all its forms (i.e., term used by Palestinians, which also refers to the use of violence and terror), but every sub-branch or every organization has its uniqueness that complements the path of resistance with the others. There is popular resistance in the West Bank. There is armed resistance sometimes in the Gaza Strip. In a struggle there needs to be an integration between popular resistance and armed resistance. But I want to ask Hamas: If you want to launch armed resistance, and you say that you are in favor of armed resistance, give me one answer: Why is Fatah an organization that was banned in the Gaza Strip (sic., Fatah’s security forces were banned in Gaza, not the entire movement)? Why are you preventing Fatah from being armed in the Gaza Strip? Why are you preventing Fatah from participating in the battles that have taken place in the Gaza Strip in more than one war? Why? After all, you say ‘We are in favor of resistance’ and in favor of reconciliation. Why are you stopping Fatah?”

Quds News Network TV reporter: “Even with the presence of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (i.e., Fatah’s military wing) [in the Gaza Strip]?”

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Tawfiq Tirawi: “The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades that are in the Gaza Strip are small groups, with all due respect, but they are under Hamas control, andsometimes Hamas gives them normal freedom of movement, but it does not give them the freedom to fight against Israel, and does not give them the right to fire rockets at Israel as Hamas does in wartime. In wartime all the options are open.Why is it preventing them from taking part in many causes? Firstly, why is it preventing them from arming themselves and demanding other things?”

Tawfiq Tirawi also serves as Fatah Commissioner of Popular Organizations.‎

The terms “all means,” “all means of resistance,” “all forms,” are ‎used by PA leaders to include using all types of violence, including deadly terror ‎against Israeli civilians such as stabbings and shootings, as well as throwing rocks and Molotov Cocktails.