BICOM

Asharq al-Awsat yesterday reported that Fatah and Hamas have agreed to reach joint decisions on major issues such as hostile action against Israel and negotiating a peace deal.

Palestinian sources told Asharq al-Awsat that “regarding [violent or peaceful] confrontation, there is an implicit understanding that this includes the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank,” adding that there is “an implicit understanding” that this also means Hamas will stop trying to initiate terror attacks in the West Bank.

Wafa News reported that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will start taking control of border crossings in Gaza today. Under the terms of the unity agreement, on 1 November the PA will take control of the Gaza-Israel crossings and the Palestinian presidential guard will take control of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, with European observers stationed there to prevent arms smuggling.

Last Thursday, Hamas and Fatah agreed that the PA would assume full authority over the Gaza strip by 1 December. Officials appointed by Hamas will reportedly be incorporated into the PA, and a joint committee will reform the police and intelligence agencies of both bodies.

A major issue of contention will be the fate of Hamas’s military wing. PA President Mahmoud Abbas opposes a so-called “Hezbollah model” for Hamas’s role in Gaza, in which Hamas would not be responsible for running civilian affairs but maintained control over its military wing.

In a statement on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Any reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas must include honouring international agreements and the Quartet conditions, first and foremost among them recognising Israel and disarming Hamas. Israel opposes any reconciliation that does not include these components. Israel insists that the PA not allow any base whatsoever for Hamas terrorist actions from PA areas in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] or from Gaza, if the PA indeed takes responsibility for its territory.”

On Sunday, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel should cut all ties with the PA. Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman struck a more pragmatic tone, stating that Israel’s national security interests are still best served by economic stability in the West Bank and security coordination with the PA. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert responded to the agreement by saying the US welcomed “the effort for the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume responsibilities in Gaza. We see that as potentially an important step for getting humanitarian aid in there. We are going to watch these developments closely”.