Fatah and Hamas Gaza delegation steps closer to forming coalition government

The Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday met a Hamas and Fatah delegation in his home in Al-Shati’ Camp, west of Gaza. The Hamas delegation was headed by Abu Marzouk, and attended by Khalil Al Hayya, Imad Al-Alami and Sami Abu Zuhiri, whilst the Fatah delegation was headed by Azzam Ahmad, Zakariya Al-Agha and Faisal Abu Shahla.

The president of the Fatah reconciliation delegation, Azzam Ahmad arrived in Gaza last night to commence talks regarding the new coalition government as per the last reconciliation agreement.

The spokesperson for the Hamas movement, Sami Abu Zuhiri, acknowledged that there was an agreement between Hamas and Fatah for the coalition government to be established by the designated deadline.

Abu Zuhiri clarified in his statement after the meeting came to an end on Wednesday that the meeting had concluded on a positive note.

He pointed out that they had gone a long way in forming the government but pointed out there was still a need for further discussions between the two.

In other news, Palestinian national security forces handed the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas’s house in Gaza to the Fatah movement in the presence of both media and the citizens. This step came following the reconciliation agreement.

MEMO photographer: Mohammad Asad