Gaza will be the most influenced by reconciliation: Haniyeh

CAIRO – 26 September 2017: Hamas’ Political Chief, Ismail Haniyeh, asserted that the Gaza Strip would be influenced the most by the reconciliation. Thus, the group held a meeting for all high-ranking officials – up to 100 – in Gaza and ordered them to comply and cooperate with the inclusive government that is being formed of all Palestinian factions.

The leaders of Hamas and other political factions in the Gaza Strip held a meeting on Monday, where the group’s political chief thanked all participants for putting differences aside and uniting for the sake of the nation.

Haniyeh stated that meetings with Egyptian officials in Cairo included talks on the political situation in the Strip, as well as the security status, which was discussed thoroughly in 2015 by a delegation presided over by Yahya Sinwar, a Palestinian military leader in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.


Yahya Sinwar - File photo

The Hamas political chief announced that he requested Egyptian authorities to hold the sessions of the Palestinian Authority’s legislative body, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), on its territories, expressing his appreciation for Egypt’s role in achieving conciliation between different Palestinian factions.

Haniyeh affirmed that the agreements reached in June with the Democratic Reform Faction founded and led by Mohamed Dahlan, a prominent Fatah leader, are still in place and play a crucial role in making the life of Gazan people easier. He asserted that Hamas is committed to these agreements, thanking Dahlan for his eagerness to accomplish and support reconciliation.


Mohamed Dahlan - File photo

Those agreements comprised of national reconciliation, which has already occurred, backing small projects and initiatives that are being executed by an ad-hoc committee, and activating PNC, whose first session after reconciliation took place.

Haniyeh revealed that he had met with the leaders of that faction – which is affiliated with Fatah – Samir El Mashharawy, Solayman Abou Motlaq and Gaafar Hodeib, and expressed their support for the conciliation.

Hamas’ political chief also declared that the group is looking forward to witnessing an internal reconciliation within the Fatah movement. “Hamas is eager to see a strong, unified and cohesive Fatah,” Haniyeh said.

Haniyeh clarified that both Egypt and Hamas are keen on reinforcing mutual relations, emphasizing the need to strengthen relations with Arab and regional countries, including Iran, “which supports the Palestinian resistance” against the Israeli occupation.

He also asserted that Gaza Strip would be influenced the most by the conciliation, and thus the group held a meeting for all high-ranking officials – up to 100 – in Gaza and ordered them to comply and cooperate with the inclusive government that is being formed of all Palestinian factions.