Top PA official: Hamas are the PA’s “brothers” according to “rule of Palestinian unity”
Head of Civil Affairs in the PA Hussein Al-Sheikh: “Currently, when [spilling] Palestinian blood is deemed permissible, brothers should not be angry at each other. This is a basic rule of Palestinian unity, cohesion, and mutual support... Yes, we had contacts with the brothers in the Hamas Movement before Oct. 7, [2023] (i.e., Hamas’ massacre of Israel) and after Oct. 7… We must reach an agreement, and we have tried again and again over many years to convene all the Palestinians under the flag of the PLO, its political fundamentals, and its vision regarding managing the conflict with Israel and [mobilizing] the international community to the side of our people’ struggle, until the occupation (i.e., Israel) is removed from our land and our homeland. Therefore, our arms are still open [to Hamas], and our hearts are open to all dialogue that will lead in the end to the unity of the Palestinian people and its forces.”
[Al-Arabiya TV (Saudi Arabia), X (Twitter) account, Nov. 12, 2023]
Hussein Al-Sheikh also serves as PLO Executive Committee Secretary, Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, and Fatah Central Committee member.