Fatah leader in Gaza resigns over new appointments

A top Fatah leader and several other officials in the Gaza Strip submitted their resignations on Friday following the appointment of new officials within the party, Fatah sources said. Yazid al-Huweihi tendered his resignation because he objected to changes within the Fatah movement in Gaza, sources said. "The resignation of al-Huweihi has not been approved so far by Fatah's leadership. The resignation was not motivated by any disagreement within Fatah, and if the justification isn't convincing, he will be asked to stay and he has to agree," Yahya Muhanna, a prominent Fatah leader, told Ma'an. Al-Huweihi was appointed Secretary-General of the leadership committee in Gaza two months ago. Several Fatah leaders and district secretary-generals were replaced because they had either completed their term, or are no longer living in the Gaza Strip, Muhanna said. New figures were appointed to the posts because electing leaders in Gaza is not doable, he added. On Friday, Fatah official Nabil Shaath confirmed that he had received news of al-Huweihi's resignation several days earlier. Shaath said he did not accept the resignation and al-Huweihi should not talk about internal Fatah issues to the media.