Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Thursday warned Hamas movement against increasing internal tension in the West Bank.

"Fatah is engaged in a political fighting against Israel and hopes that nobody would change the direction of the fight in the West Bank," said Mahmoud al-Aloul, a member of Fatah Central Committee, referring to Palestinian diplomatic moves to secure more global support against the Israeli occupation.

"It should be clear that we will not let anybody threaten our unity and support in the West Bank," al-Aloul said.

His remarks followed statements by Khaled Mashaal, the Damascus- based Hamas leader, that the Islamic movement was largely harmed in the West Bank but will surprise everybody when it recovers.

In June 2007, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized the Gaza Strip. Hamas has recently accused the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) of stepping up harassment and detention of its supporters and members in the West Bank.