GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In a new move to clamp down on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree April 20 exempting Gaza citizens from the fees of services rendered by the ministries, institutions and bodies affiliated with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The decision includes first-time service fees, which go to the treasury of the Hamas-run Ministry of Finance in Gaza.

The decree covers nine articles, exempting income tax on companies and individuals, imports of goods from abroad, purchases and sales under the clearing bills, professional licenses for companies licensed in the southern governorates (the Gaza Strip) and working in the northern governorates (the West Bank) — all of which go to the treasury in Ramallah.

A similar decree was issued by Abbas on June 26, 2007, following Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, by virtue of which Gaza citizens were exempted from service fees, with the purpose of restricting Hamas’ rule. However, Abbas found no way to implement the decree on the ground in light of Hamas’ control over the Gaza Strip. In this context, government officials in Gaza expect the same to happen with the newly issued decree.

Tariq Rishmawi, a spokesman for the government of national consensus, told Al-Monitor that high-ranking government officials — whose names remain anonymous — instructed spokespersons not to comment on the presidential decree. But he said, “The de facto authority in Gaza [Hamas] prevents the government from providing its services to the citizens.”