United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov yesterday called on the two rival Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas to achieve reconciliation based on democratic principles.
In a press conference held in the Gaza Strip, Mladenov said: “Palestinian factions have to exert efforts to achieve unity based on democracy,” calling for Fatah and Hamas to continue current talks in Doha in order to achieve reconciliation that fulfils the demands of the Palestinians.
He mentioned that several deals were reached during the past few years; the most prominent was the one signed in Cairo, which was signed in 2011. He called for carrying out the terms agreed upon in this deal.
Mladenove reiterated the importance of opening the crossings and lifting the Israeli-led siege imposed on Gaza, as well as facilitating the movement of goods into and out of the coastal enclave.
In addition, he noted that he had visited the neighbourhood of Shuja’iyya and found that 150,000 home owners had received construction materials. He stressed on the importance of providing a “decent” life for Palestinians in Gaza.
He went on to stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the only solution for the Palestinian cause is two states living peacefully together, adding that the UN has been working to achieve this.
Regarding Palestinian hunger striking journalist Muhammad Al-Qeeq, Mladenove said the UN has a clear position regarding administrative detention; it refuses it and demands the release of all prisoners held in this manner.
He called for any party whose is able to reach a solution leading to Al-Qeeq’s release to interfere in order to save his live.
He also said that the UN does not accept the continuous stabbing attacks in the West Bank, Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes and the continuous settlement construction which undermines the establishment of a two-state solution.
Images by MEMO photographer Mohammed Asad.