GAZA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, named on Thursday a new attorney general for the first time in ten years since the movement's violent takeover of the coastal enclave.
Hamas nomination of the new Attorney General Deyaldin al-Madhoun outraged the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) which rules the West Bank, saying the move would deepen internal Palestinian division between the two territories.
The media office of the Hamas-controlled parliament, better known as the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), said in an official statement that al-Madhoun was named as the new attorney general for the Gaza Strip.
Al-Madhoun replaced his predecessor Ismail Jabber, who was nominated by Hamas as Gaza Attorney General right after the movement forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip following weeks of internal fighting with the PNA security forces.
Spokesman of the PNA consensus government in Ramallah, Yousef al-Mahmoud, slammed Hamas rulers' decision to nominate a new attorney general. He said it is illegal and would deepen the internal division between Gaza and Ramallah.
"Apparently, Hamas is not seeking unity and carrying out such unilateral illegal actions, which would lead to more division and more complications," said al-Mahmoud.
