(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah chaired the first meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in the Gaza Strip for three years yesterday, in a move towards reconciliation between the mainstream Fatah party and Hamas.
The cabinet session was the first in Gaza since 2014, Hamdallah told ministers, and a major step in a reconciliation process promoted by neighbouring Egypt and other US-allied countries.
'Today, we stand before an important historical moment as we begin to get over our wounds, put our differences aside and place the higher national interest above all else, Hamdallah said.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh echoed the optimism, saying: 'There might be some difficulties on the road, but we will conclude reconciliation, regardless of the cost.
Hamas, last month disbanded its Gaza shadow government.
But while Hamas has handed over administrative responsibilities to a unity government originally formed three years ago, its armed wing remains the dominant force in Gaza.
A first sign of discontent surfaced yesterday with Hamas criticising President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to await the outcome of talks Fatah plans to hold with the group on Oct 10 before lifting sanctions he has imposed on Gaza.
'The government has assumed its responsibilities in Gaza and therefore delay is not justified, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. 'There is no excuse for delaying or undermining measures that would ease the suffering of Gaza's people.
Abbas halted payments for Israeli-supplied electricity to the enclave in June, a step that has led to long daily blackouts, and cut salaries for Gaza civil servants.
Abbas told Egyptian TV station CBC on Monday there could be only 'one state, one regime, one law and one weapon in Gaza, reiterating a long-held position that security should be in the hands of only the Palestinian Authority (PA), which he heads, and that the PA must control border crossing points.
In a pre-recorded address to the Palestinian cabinet, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged unity.
'I assure you we have no time to waste, and that history will hold accountable those who waste the current opportunity to bring about peace, Sisi said.
Both Israel and Egypt — whose intelligence chief arrived in Gaza to meet Hamas leaders, Hamdallah and officials from other Palestinian factions — maintain a partial blockade of Gaza, citing security concerns.
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