The Palestinian group Fatah has warned Islamic Hamas to lay off Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who has been criticized for saying rocket attacks on Israel are "useless."

A Fatah leaflet says Hamas' incitement against Abbas is obstructing the holding of presidential elections and violating Hamas' commitment to achieving unity among Palestinians.

Abbas, the Fatah's candidate for president, said in Gaza on Monday that the rocket attacks on settlements "are not useful and didn't achieve any benefits for the Palestinian people."

Hamas responded by saying Abbas had "stabbed the resistance movement in the back," and was encouraging Israel to continue its attacks on Palestinians. Enditem