Palestinian PM, UN official in talks over national reconciliation file

RAMALLAH - 28 September 2017: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met with UN Special Coordinator for Mideast Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov at his Ramallah office Thursday for talks on the latest developments of the national reconciliation file.

Hamdallah said the UN official briefed him on the outcome of his meeting with Hamas leaders in Gaza Strip and their approval to hand over government responsibilities to Fatah.

Hamdallah expressed comfort over enabling Fatah to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip after years of internal divisions.

Other issues will be settled gradually till situation in the coastal enclave fully returns to what it has been before, he said.

Fatah and Hamas have been at loggerheads since Hamas violently took control of the Strip in 2007, with the two groups operating separate administrations.

But last week Hamas made some concessions, saying it is ready to take steps toward resolving the split with Fatah, including dissolving the administrative committee and holding elections.