The incoming interior ministry, headed by Saeed Siam who is also a senior leader of the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), would have no authority to control the national security forces or the army, which includes Force 17, the Naval Forces, the Presidential guards, military intelligence and the security intelligence, said Yousef.

The security apparatus will get instructions and its missions as well as its competences from President Abbas, he said.

Yousef made the remarks after handing over the portfolio of interior to Siam at the ministry's headquarters in Gaza City.

He told reporters that the Ministry of Interior under Siam will deal only with police, civil defense and preventive security apparatuses.

"But the national security is not amongst the ministry's competences," he clarified.

"And for this the national security apparatus is still submitted to the president till issuing new decisions on this issue," he said.

A new Palestinian government led by Hamas was sworn in on Wednesday after the Palestinian Legislative Council gave it a vote of confidence.

Hamas defeated Abbas' Fatah movement in Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary elections with an overwhelming majority, ending decades of rule by Fatah.