Hamas slams the Palestinian Authority's decision to close over 100 Islamic charities, saying it would deprive the nation of humanitarian aid.

The Hamas Spokesman said the institutions were responsible for providing unconditional financial and humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of Palestinians, including the families of martyrs, prisoners and those wounded in clashes with Israeli forces.

Sami Abu Zuhri said the US-backed government of Salam al-Fayyad "has no legitimacy and it is unauthorized to take such a decision since it has not won the parliament's confidence."

Abu Zuhri further described the move as part of Israeli-US attempts to weaken Hamas.

On Monday, Fayyad's government decided to shut down some 104 charity institutions in the West Bank that employ hundreds of workers.

In an interview with several Palestinian newspapers published on Tuesday, Fayyad claimed the charities had "committed legal, financial and administrative violations."

MRS/RE