Hamas cracks down on demo for Abbas’ US talks

GAZA CITY — Thirteen people were arrested on Sunday as Gaza security forces broke up a demonstration backing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of key talks at the White House, organisers said.

The rally was organised by Abbas’ Fateh Party which is the dominant faction in the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, but a minority in the Gaza Strip which is ruled by the rival Islamist Hamas movement.

Fateh official Mohammed Nahal said police attacked around 80 demonstrators as they were gathering in the square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City.

“The police and Hamas’ internal security forces attacked them and dispersed the demonstration. They arrested 13 people and beat up others,” he told AFP.

Police spokesman Ayub Abu Shaar confirmed the arrests, saying the protesters had no permit.

“Police broke up a gathering of a group of people who were demonstrating... because it was unauthorised,” he told AFP.

Abbas will meet US President Barack Obama on Monday to discuss the crisis in peace talks with Israel ahead of a looming April deadline.

Obama met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month as part of a Herculean effort to convince both sides to agree to a framework proposal to extend the talks to the year’s end.