Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath reiterated that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) rejects the proposal made by radical Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to form a national committee to observe the Israeli Gaza pullout.

Shaath, who is also the information minister, told reporters that "there would be no new system in the Gaza Strip," adding the Palestinian leadership rejects even the idea of forming an independent government for the Gaza Strip.

"There is only one Palestinian (National) Authority which is in charge of the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank as well as all the territories occupied by Israel in 1967," asserted Shaath.

Hamas, the major militant group in the occupied territories, had said that it prefers forming a highest national committee to back the PNA and observe the Israeli pullout.

Israel is expected to begin its historic withdrawal from 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in northern West Bank in mid-August, after four decades of occupation.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who met with leaders of Palestinian factions in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, proposed to them to form a national unity government but was rejected by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War).

Shaath justified that the reason Hamas and Jihad refused to join a national unity government is that they are preparing for participating in the parliamentary election due to be held on Jan, 20.

"Hamas does not want to join the elections while it is a part in the government. It prefers first to join the parliament and become an opposition from inside," said Shaath.

Source: Xinhua