Hamas has sworn to destroy Israel and is considered by the main donor countries to the PA to be a terrorist organization.

The Quartet on the Middle East — comprising the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia — had said that its members would not deal with the Hamas government unless Hamas recognized Israel's right to exist, forswears violence and accepts the validity of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements, including the Oslo Accords.

On the swearing in of the Hamas government, Israel also withheld taxes collected on behalf of the PA,[6] which would last for 12 months.

[9] Following the abduction of Gilad Shalit on 25 June 2006 by Gaza-based Palestinian militants, Israel detained nearly a third of the PLC members and ministers, all officials or supporters of Hamas.

[2] On 27 March 2006, Ismail Haniyeh announced formation of the new government, comprising Hamas members and four independents, to the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Due to the Israeli blockade, Ministers from West Bank and Gaza were compelled to communicate by videophone.

He also ordered all diplomatic statements and dealings be coordinated with the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organization,[6] after Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar had sent a letter to the UN Secretary General.