(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-18 21:51

RAMALLAH -- A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement reiterated on Sunday that Hamas' control of Gaza Strip can be ended "by the Palestinian people's will."

"The decision to end the coup is in the hands of the Palestinian people who had their say more than one time in the recent month," spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman said, referring to a big rally by Fatah in Gaza last week.

In an interview with local radio Voice of Palestine, Abdel Rahman said that Hamas' control of Gaza was aimed at "investing the Palestinian cause to serve regional goals," while accusing Hamas of "obeying Israel in exchange for shaky ruling in Gaza."

Meanwhile, sources with Palestinian security forces loyal to President Abbas said that they have arrested seven members of Hamas in the West Bank. The pro-Abbas security forces intensified pressure on Hamas for fears of plans to take over the West Bank modeling after the Gaza takeover in June.

The sources said the detentions were made upon orders from the prosecution, adding the detainees were accused of "planning operation to disrupt the security and order in the West Bank."

Hamas has condemned the arrests and accused the security services of arbitrarily targeting its supporters in the West Bank.