BICOM

At the end of last week, Hamas and the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas claimed to have reached agreement for a unity government to take control of the Gaza Strip.

Last week, an Israeli and Palestinian delegation agreed to reconvene talks about a long-term Gaza ceasefire arrangement in the wake of Operation Protective Edge. The adjournment gave Fatah and Hamas the opportunity to reconvene “reconciliation” talks with sharp disagreements between the two factions over a number of crucial issues, most strikingly the very future governance of Gaza.

Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub said that, “Fatah and Hamas have reached a comprehensive agreement for the unity government to return to the Gaza Strip.” The two factions agreed a similar technocratic unitary authority in June, but its governance was never implemented. Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

However, the details of such an accord are yet to be published. The Guardian reports that the agreement will see PA forces take control of border crossings, including the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Meanwhile, Fatah official Azzam Ahmed is quoted saying that, “All civil servants will be paid by the unity government,” seemingly putting an end to a dispute surrounding the salaries of 40,000 Hamas government employees. There is little indication of whether the unity government would have the authority to manage any future conflicts independently of Hamas.

However, should the unity government under the auspices of the PA take office, it could pave the way for internationally-backed reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, the United Nations, Israel and the PA agreed a mechanism for building materials to enter Gaza. Meanwhile, Egypt will host an international donor conference next month with the PA seen as the only viable address for future funds.