Fatah hails Hamas efforts to end internal division

A senior member of Fatah’s Central Committee, Azzam Al-Ahmad, has hailed Hamas efforts to end the internal division in Palestinian politics. Speaking to journalists in Ramallah, Al-Ahmad said that this week would be “decisive” as the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority government is going to take up its responsibilities in Gaza.

The Fatah official noted that these developments are part of the understandings reached under the auspices of the Egyptian mediator who made “abnormal” efforts to end the division. He acknowledged that the division had resulted in a humanitarian crisis that is reflected in all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, as well as a negative effect on the Palestinian cause.

However, Al-Ahmad suggested that the success of the ongoing reconciliation efforts would open the door to Palestinian national unity. The unity government, he explained, will work in Gaza without any interference from any Palestinian faction. Government and Fatah officials have arrived in the enclave to take their positions in the various institutions of state.

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Al-Ahmad stressed that the issues related to ending the division would be based on the Cairo Agreement signed in 2011. He expressed his hope that the reconciliation would make national unity tangible ahead of establishing the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.