If Abbas proceeds with his threat, the referendum is expected to be called for July and would be seen as a vote of confidence in Hamas, which won legislative elections in late January.

• 如果阿巴斯保持他对哈马斯的威胁，那么全民投票将会在七月如期举行，而且这将被看成是对在去年一月赢得合法选举的哈马斯的一次信任投票。