BICOM

The Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and more than a hundred officials and Government ministers will arrive in Gaza today as part of an Egyptian-backed initiative to end the political division between the West Bank and Gaza.

In his first visit to Gaza in three years, Hamdallah will be welcomed by Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyah and Yahya Sinwar, and will convene the PA Government’s weekly cabinet meeting in Gaza City on Tuesday.

An Egyptian security delegation headed by Hazem Khairat, Egypt’s Ambassador to Israel, arrived in Gaza on Sunday to monitor the reconciliation process. It was the first time an Egyptian delegation had visited the Strip in seven years. The delegation was received by Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Speaking about the latest reconciliation efforts, Haniyeh said: “We understand that the inner-Palestinian reconciliation process could be long, because of the setbacks along the way, and the fact that there are many issues that require brave decisions, but we are certain that we have started tearing down the wall of separation. We are in a situation of national, regional, and international changes, in addition to the strong Egyptian backing which supports the end of the rift.”

Hamas offered last month to turn over all governing responsibilities to Prime Minister Hamdallah. London-based newspaper Al-Hayat reported that PA President Mahmoud Abbas has stipulated three conditions for full reconciliation: Hamas to dismantle its military wing, that there be no foreign involvement in the administration of the Gaza Strip, and that any money for the restoration and development of Gaza only be channelled through the PA.

Several reconciliation agreements between Fatah and Hamas have been announced and signed in the past without being implemented, mainly due to Hamas refusing to disarm.

News website Al Khaleej Online suggests that Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on the issue of salaries for Hamas government employees. A senior Palestinian source told the website that they had agreed not to discuss the issue of Hamas’s weapons right now since the matter was liable to undermine the atmosphere of reconciliation.

Writing in the Times of Israel, Avi Issacharoff said that Hamas may be considering the “Hezbollah model” for its role in Gaza, in which it is not responsible for running civilian affairs but maintains its military wing and weapons.