Hamas asked on Monday the Palestinian government headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to quickly come to the Gaza Strip to assume its duties.
“We demand President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah movement to immediately allow Hamdallah’s government to carry out its full duties and responsibilities in Gaza without delay or disruption,” said Fawzi Barhoum, the Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, Hamas announced from Cairo the dissolution of the so-called administrative committee that runs Gaza, calling on the government of national accord to assume its duties in the coastal strip and declaring that it accepts holding the general elections.
Hamas also expressed a readiness to restart dialogue with Fatah on the mechanisms to implement the Cairo Agreement that was reached between the two rival Palestinian factions in 2011. The deal calls for forming a national unity government, holding presidential and parliamentary elections and polls to elect member of the national council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
It is still unclear when the unity government would take over the Gaza Strip.
Nabil Shaath, senior adviser to Abbas, said on Monday that Hamdallah plans to visit the Gaza Strip and meet Hamas officials soon.
However, the adviser did not specify the exact date of the prime minister’s visit.
Meanwhile, Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke on Monday for the first time in over a year.
Speaking from New York by phone, Abbas asserted to Hanieyh the need to implement the Cairo agreement.
In response, Haniyeh told the PA president that Hamas was "determined to move ahead with steps to end the division, with all willingness and determination, with the goal of uniting our Palestinian people.”
Next week, Hamas and Fatah representatives are expected to hold talks in Cairo.
Observers still believe there are several obstacles that would hinder the implementation of the reconciliation between the two parties.
