Hamas votes to revoke Abbas powers

At the first working session of the parliament, Hamas voted to cancel all decisions made in the last session of the outgoing legislature. This includes additional powers given to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.

Fatah legislators walked out in protest before Monday's vote was held. They had argued that Hamas was twisting the rules by holding the vote, and that the last session of the Fatah-controlled parliament was legal.

The vote set the tone for what legislators say will be a tension-fraught term, further dimming the possibility of the Fatah movement joining the Hamas government.

The confrontation

Fatah lawmakers insisted Hamas did not have the right to review the decisions. They were overruled by Hamas which controls an absolute majority in the 132-seat legislature.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a Fatah member of parliament, said his party would ask the Palestinian Supreme Court to overturn the decision.

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