 |
| Hamas and Fatah representatives of the officials delegations in Cairo (Image: EPA) |
Two Palestinian rival factions, Hamas, which is de facto ruler of the
Gaza Strip, and Fatah have issued a joint statement on Thursday, 25 September,
declaring their agreement to return unity government to take control over Gaza
Strip and to regulate an issue of Gaza rebuilding and reconstruction after
devastating 50 days long with Israel. The statement came after the two-days
talks held between Hamas and Fatah in Cairo, with Egyptian mediation.
It’s worth mentioning though that such an agreement regarding forming
the unity government appeared in June 2014. That government consisted of the
independent experts and representatives of the both factions and was aimed at
resolving the current problems of Palestine and Gaza as well, but that
government never took hold due to the numerous internal disagreements and
mutual accusations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas in
creating the “shadow government” in Gaza Strip and in a “parallel
administration” there, what caused many problems for the Palestinian cause and
for the people of Gaza as well. Hamas in its turn accused Ramallah
administration of not paying 45,000 of its employees working in Gaza.
Thus, after the talks between the delegations of the representatives of
the both Palestinian factions held in Cairo the sides came to an agreement and
issued their declaration regarding return of the unity government and strong
willingness of the both sides to finally overcome their differences and
disagreements and to unite their powers in order to create their strategy ahead
of the upcoming peace talks with Israel to be held in October in Cairo, also
with the Egyptian mediation.
Azzam Al-Ahmad, head of the Fayah delegation in Cairo, and Musa Abu
Marzouk, senior official of Hamas, have issued a joint statement on Tuesday,
stating that the territory of Gaza Strip will be controlled by the Palestinian
authorities and the unity government. Jibril Rajoub, representative of Fatah,
said to the journalists that “Fatah and Hamas have reached a comprehensive agreement
for the unity government to return to Gaza Strip”.
The deal between Hamas and Fatah states that unity government will take
control over the territories of Gaza Strip and will supervise the crossings
into the Strip and take responsibility for the process of rebuilding and
reconstruction of Gaza. In was agreed that all internal divisions in Palestine and
Gaza will be set aside and a strong and united strategy will be declared ahead
of the talks with Israel. The October talks to be held in Cairo between
Palestine and Israel and hosted and mediated by Egypt are aimed at reaching a
durable, long-standing ceasefire after the 50-days war (Operation protective
Edge) in Gaza and the following rebuilding of the Gaza infrastructure. In
addition to that Palestinian authorities and Hamas as well will demand to end
the eight years blockade of Gaza, opening of the border crossing and
establishing of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. This issue is
being shared and supported by both Fatah and Hamas as well. Palestine also
demands release of the Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli custody in
the frameworks of the prisoners’ exchange program.
Unity government is expected to supervise the crossings into Gaza to facilitate
its reconstruction. According to the official statement the sides have also
reached an agreement regarding the issue of the construction materials.
This move is extremely important ahead of the upcoming peace talks with
Israel to be held in October and also ahead of the International donors’ conference,
to be held also in Cairo on 12 October and dedicated to the problem of
reconstruction of Gaza. The agreement reached between Hamas and Fatah was also
welcomed by the Egyptian authorities playing a significant role in resolving
the current crisis in Gaza and mediating in the Palestinian-Israeli talks.
No comments:
Post a Comment