Hamas warns Abbas on sanctions

GAZA CITY

Hamas warned on Oct. 17 that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's delay in easing sanctions on Gaza was putting at risk a landmark unity deal signed last week.

"The continuation of the punitive measures against our people in Gaza a month after the dissolution of the administrative council spoils the general atmosphere for reconciliation," a party spokesman told Hamas media.

Islamist group Hamas last month agreed to dissolve its administrative council, seen as a rival government in Gaza, and return civilian power in the enclave to the Palestinian Authority a decade after seizing it in a near civil war.

Chief among their demands, however, was that Abbas drop a series of measures taken against Gaza.

Among these were reductions in energy payments for the territory which left its two million residents with only a few hours of mains electricity per day.

Hamas is due to hand over Gaza's border crossings by Nov. 1 ahead of a full transfer of power by Dec. 1.