Palestinian factions suggested an initiative to end the division between Hamas and Fatah, however, there was no response from either movement, informed Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Hamas and Fatah said the initiative doesn't carry new suggestions and doesn't address the issues in dispute, and it may conflict with the Egyptian efforts.
The sources stressed that the two movements consider the initiative a mere media stunt that will not achieve any breakthrough.
Fatah insists on handing Gaza Strip over to Hamas, noting that it does not need any new initiative, according to the sources, while Hamas insists on “partnership” in government and seeks solutions for complex issues.
Earlier, the Palestinian factions launched an initiative with a vision to achieve unity and end the intra-division between Fatah and Hamas.
The Islamic Jihad, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Palestinian People's Party (PPP), Palestinian National Initiative, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), and As-Saiqa Party offered to consider the signed national reconciliation agreements between the factions in 2005, 2011, 2017 as references to end the division and restore national unity.
The factions called for a meeting of the PLO’s development and activation committee in October 2019 in Cairo, at the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, to agree on a common national vision, program, strategy, and a transitional national unity government.
They also called for the resumption of preparatory committee meetings to organize for the elections of the Palestinian National Council, under the law of full proportional representation.
Meanwhile, PFLP imprisoned Sec-Gen Ahmed Saadat called on Fatah and Hamas to seize the opportunity to agree on the national vision to achieve unity and end the division. Saadat asserted that the factions’ vision is the basis and gateway to revive reconciliation and build national unity.
The Secretary-General noted that responding to this vision must be accompanied by confidence-building measures between the two parties, and this requires a real political will.
He stressed that ending the division and achieving reconciliation and national unity should be the pillar and strategy that enables Palestinians to face the challenges and dangers of the “deal of the century” and measures of the occupation forces.
Reconciliation is currently frozen due to differences over the empowerment of the Palestinian government, sanctions on the Gaza Strip, and truce talks with Israel.
Fatah was adhering to the implementation of the 2017 reconciliation agreement and asked for written approval from Hamas.
Both movements disagree on handling ministries and Rafah crossing as well as the issue of Hamas employees and tax collection.
