GAZA, April 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic resistance movement Hamas demanded Tuesday that a national committee comprising all Palestinian factions be formed to observe the expected Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

    Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a statement that Hamas' position regarding the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza "is clear and a committee to rule the withdrawal should be formed."

    "All national and Islamic factions in addition to independent personalities have to be in the committee to observe issues like territories and properties of the settlements," said Abu Zuhri.

    The idea was rejected earlier on Monday by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who said at a news conference held in Gaza that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is the only legal Palestinian body to supervise the Gaza withdrawal.

    "There will be one legal gun, one legal authority and a political variety," Abbas said.

    Meanwhile, Mohamed Dahlan, the minister of civil affairs, said 42 Palestinian experts had been selected from 23 ministries and non-government organizations to form committees to observe the pullout.

    Abu Zuhri, however, argued that forming technical committees cannever be an alternative to forming a national Palestinian committee to back up the authority in ruling and observing the withdrawal andthe evacuation.

    The technical committees are technical and can never be able to make political decisions, he said. Enditem