The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday held its weekly Cabinet meeting in the Gaza Strip for the first time in three years, The Jerusalem Post reported. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and other ministers travelled to Gaza on Tuesday to begin work on reconciliation between the Fatah party and militant group Hamas, Reuters reported.
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, ousting Fatah from the region. But on September 17, the militant group said that it was ready to dissolve the committee ruling Gaza, and hold a general election for the first time since 2006. Hamas has now called on the Palestinian government “to come to Gaza to exercise its functions and carry out its duties immediately”.
“We will undertake our responsibilities in administrating the affairs of all sectors of the southern provinces in consensus and complete partnership with the Palestinian factions and forces,” Hamdallah said on Tuesday. Hamdallah added that Fatah intended to resolve all outstanding differences with Hamas.
Hamdallah also asked Palestinians to unify under his government. “I urge everyone without exception to embrace the leadership, reconciliation and national unity, and to put our national interest above factional and party considerations and interests,” he said. He said that if Hamas and Fatah reconcile, the international community would be encouraged to fund the rebuilding of Gaza.
Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and other powers.
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