Palestinian Fundamentalist Group Hamas Takes Steps to Rejoin Secular Rival Fatah
08:05 17.09.2017(updated 15:03 17.09.2017)
In 2007 a conflict between Fatah, then dominant Palestinian political party, and the Islamic fundamentalist organization Hamas led to the split of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas taking over the Gaza Strip. The decision of Hamas to finally hold negotiations with Fatah may indicate the first steps towards reconciliation.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas has announced that it has decided to dissolve its administrative committee and expressed a readiness to launch talks with the Fatah movement.
According to the fundamentalist organization's statement, Hamas is also ready to hold general elections.
Earlier this week, Hamas already showed its readiness to dissolve the committee and to transmit its powers to the unity government.
The conflict between Hamas and Fatah escalated in 2007, leading to a split and Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip. Repeated attempts have been made by regional forces to achieve a reconciliation between the two parties, but all efforts have so far failed.
In January, Fatah and Hamas agreed to form a unity government after three days of talks in Moscow, however, no further success has been achieved so far.
In August, reports emerged that Hamas had unveiled a new initiative aimed at reaching reconciliation with the Ramallah-based Fatah. The initiative reportedly envisaged the dissolution of Hamas' administrative committee, established in March to coordinate the work of Gaza's public institutions. Fatah has repeatedly criticized the committee, claiming that it prevents the unity government from operating in the area.
© Sputnik
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