Hamas TV channel hosts members of Fatah for the first time

CAIRO – 2 October 2017: Hamas TV channel “Al-Aqsa” hosted Fayez Abu Eita, Secretary of Fatah's Revolutionary Council, and Hamas leader, Mushir al-Masri Saturday evening, to discuss the latest developments of the Palestinian reconciliation.

This step is the first since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 and the formation of the national consensus government in June 2014. It also comes within the framework of the Palestinian national reconciliation efforts facilitated by Egypt.

During the program, Abu Eita explained Fatah's view of the reconciliation process. He said: "It is more mature and serious than any time before, and the expectations are very high. We hope to reach a moment in which reconciliation is achieved. Palestinians today live in difficult and harsh conditions. "

Abu Eita stressed rejecting the return to the past or using old terminology that hinders unity. He pointed out that one of the most important priorities for achieving unity is to mobilize forces and factions to resolve the division.

From his side Hamas leader, Mushir al-Masri, said that “bilateral dialogues proved failure.” He added “What we need now is to develop efficient mechanisms to implement the previous agreements and accords.”

Al-Masri added, “Today there is an Egyptian push and a clear commitment to achieve the national reconciliation.”

Palestinians are very optimistic about the reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, and hope that the arrival of the consensus government and the Prime Minister Ramy al-Hamdallah will mark a new beginning for Palestinian unity.

Despite a number of attempts to reconcile the Palestinian split, led by international and Arab efforts, only Egypt with its historical and political position was able to bring an end to this nightmare. Egypt managed to bring the conflicting Palestinian factions together to overcome the obstacles and to invest in opportunities to create new conditions away from the fear of exclusion. Egypt helped the factions realize that they need to move forward towards a partnership based on the fact that Palestine is for all Palestinians.

On September 17, the Hamas movement announced the dissolution of its administrative committee in the Gaza Strip, and invited the Consensus Government’s Prime Minster, Ramy al-Hamdallah to visit Gaza and assume his duties in the Strip. Hamas also called for holding general elections in Palestine. Furthermore, the movement confirmed complying with Cairo reconciliation accords 2011.

On October 3, the consensus government will hold its first cabinet meeting from Gaza. The consensus government is expected to form a number of ministerial committees to address the effects and consequences of the internal division as well as other civil, administrative and legal issues arising from the split.