Fatah and Hamas talk unity on Fatah's 48th anniversary

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Following several meetings and intensive consultations, the Hamas Movement and the Palestinian government in Gaza have agreed to hold a central festival for the Fatah Movement to commemorate its 48th anniversary.

It was initially thought that the festival would be banned from being held in al-Katiba Square due to the sensitivity of the area and its proximity to police stations, prisons and universities. Moreover, there were fears that should riots break out, they would damage the area.

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Several meetings were held between Fatah and Hamas and were initially attended by Yahya Rabah and Zakaria al-Agha, members of the Fatah leadership. The two appeared to have accepted Hamas’ reasoning for wanting to move the festivities to the al-Saraya area in the centre of Gaza and on this basis, Fatah were poised to hold celebrations on  4th January 2013.

However, a second leadership delegation, including Nabil Shaath, was sent to Gaza and met with Gaza’s Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyyah, to discuss a number of issues. Similarly, this evening, Jibril Rajoub visited the Strip and also met with the Prime Minister in meetings that have been described as positive and aim at reconciliation and pushing forward the reorganisation of internal Palestinian affairs.

A member of Fatah’s Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, said that Hamas and Fatah was a single family unit and that it must finalise this unity; and that Egypt was their umbrella and a good guardian for them both.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad