Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday urged armed factions to help rebuild the Gaza Strip rather than flex their military muscle as he toured the ruins of Israelâs most hated former settlement. Opening a water well amid the rubble-scarred landscape of Netzarim, Abbas confirmed that militants had agreed to stop all armed rallies and marches by Saturday, stressing that now was the time for a united reconstruction effort. âAll factions will participate with the Palestinian Authority in the rebuilding,â said Abbas, inaugurating a well to cater to some 3,000 Palestinians in the village of Al-Mughraqa near the former Netzarim settlement. âItâs an important project to return the greenery to all the Palestinian territories which have been destroyed and bulldozed by Israel. We hope to be the first of all of our re-construction projects,â Abbas said.His tour of Netzarim, where armed activists have been out in force since Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip on Sept. 12, follows talks with representatives of the main Palestinian factions late Wednesday. âWhat is important is that we decided Saturday will be the last day for military displays in the Gaza Strip and to move on to rebuilding areas which were destroyed by Israel,â said Abbas.
Armed factions, particularly Hamas, have staged a number of large-scale rallies in the aftermath of Israelâs departure from Gaza as they seek to claim credit for what they see as an act of surrender. Hamas has confirmed it has agreed to end its celebratory military parades and armed marches in Gaza towns, but refuses appeals from Abbas, Israel and the international community to disarm before taking part in elections in January.