Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks resume in Gaza

A key meeting was held between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza city yesterday Gaza – Mohammed Habib A key meeting was held between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza city yesterday to further the reconciliation process. The two Palestinian factions agreed to finalise the issue of political prisoners and passports.
Hamas continues to express reservations about the Palestinian Authority’s UN bid, which it has repeatedly claimed was a unilateral decision.
A member of Fatah’s steering committee, Diab Al-Loh, said that the two parties are committed to the reconciliation process.
“We have agreed on the importance of finalising the issue of political prisoners and the passports.”
Fatah was represented by Abdallah abu samhadana and Hisham abdel Razek, while the Hamas delegation was made up of Ismael Al ashqar, Ismael Radwan and Khalil Nofel.
Hamas’ Ismael Radwan said: “the two movements agreed on the importance of achieving national unity and resolving the issues between us.”
The parties also discussed the Palestinian UN bid.
Rawdan said: “the Palestinian president’s decision to the UN is a unilateral decision which will have implications for the right of return and the Palestinian resistance.”
Delegations from Fatah and Hamas, also met last Monday in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The Deputy Chief of the Hamas politburo, Mousa Abu Marzouk, confirmed a few days ago that Cairo will host a new round of dialogue between the two parties next month.
The two movements agreed on a number of points during their meeting in Cairo last month, including the release of all the political detainees from the two sides before the end of Ramadan and reopening of institutions that were closed after the two groups split in 2007.
It was decided in Cairo that the issue of providing passports to Gaza residents would also be resolved by the end of Ramadan.
The two parties signed the historic reconciliation documents on May 4th, however the agreement’s terms are yet to be implemented.