Haniyeh adviser Ghazi Hamad suspended

Adviser to Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh and former PA government spokesman Ghazi Hamad has been suspended, partly because of his recent criticism of Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza, Al-Hayat reported Monday. According to the paper, the decision to suspend Hamad was a blow to the "moderate" elements within Hamas. Hamad recently denied any responsibility for an open letter that called the Gaza coup a "great mistake" and warned that the move would further isolate the group.