Egypt welcomes Hamas, Fatah's efforts of inter-Palestine reconciliation

CAIRO – 17 September 2017: Egypt welcomes the stance of the Palestinian Movements of Hamas and Fatah over their efforts to reach Egypt-brokered inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

“President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is keen on the unity of the Palestinian people, and ending the division.”

Egypt reaffirms its continued efforts to contact President Mahmoud Abbas and all Palestinian factions to serve the public interest.

Hamas movement announced on Sunday the dissolving of the administrative committee at Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed that it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed with Fatah in 2011.

The Social Reconciliation Accord in Cairo 2011 aimed to restore unity among Palestinian political actors after four years of conflict since 2007. It was inked by the Egyptian authority in 2009, and was accepted by the two parties in May 2011 following Palestinian demonstrations.

Hamas and Fatah would start a dialogue, and form a national unity government upon the Egyptian initiative to achieve unity among Palestinian powers.


Earlier in 2017, Hamas announced forming an administrative committee in the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian authorities accused Hamas then of attempting to form a shadow government and form an independent state in Gaza.


About seven previous reconciliation attempts between Fatah and Hamas since 2007 failed, including Fatah-Hamas Doha talks in 2012.


The head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo on September 10 to meet with a number of Egyptian officials to discuss inter-Palestinian reconciliation and the situation of the Gaza people, according to Hamas’ statement.


It was the first visit since Haniyeh took over as president in last May, the Associated Press stated Sunday.


A delegation from the Fatah movement headed by head of the Fatah parliamentary bloc and member of Palestinian Fatah's central committee Azzam al-Ahmed, arrived on Saturday in Cairo to discuss ways to implement Palestinian reconciliation.