PNA refuses to discuss border issues with Hamas

RAMALLAH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) rejected a call from Hamas for a meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo to discuss arrangement for opening a border crossing between Egypt and the Hamas-run Gaza round the clock.

"The Palestinian Presidency will not talk with Hamas in any issue before it retreats its coup and we will not discuss Rafah crossing issue with Hamas because it is irrelevant in this regard," said Nemer Hammad, political advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hammad said the PNA wants to take back the rein of the Gaza Strip crossings without coordination with Hamas, noting that "Hamas must leave the crossing immediately and announce its failure to run the life of the people in Gaza."

On Wednesday, Ismail Haneya, Prime Minister of the sacked Hamas-led unity government, proposed to meet Abbas and Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss opening Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt after militants blew up the border wall.

Tens of thousands of Gazans, who suffered from Israeli siege since Hamas took over the territory by force in June, flocked to the Sinai peninsula to stock up on food, medicine and furniture. Israel ordered the shut-down of the crossings in retaliation to ongoing makeshift rocket attacks carried out by Palestinian militants from Gaza against Israel.