Wrap-up: Palestinian PM’s ‘historic visit’ to Gaza Monday

CAIRO – 2 October 2017: The Consensus Government led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has been officially handed over the Gaza Strip administration from Hamas movement Monday after an agreement reached between both Palestinian factions was concluded in Cairo last month.

Hamdallah described in a press conference on Monday his visit to Gaza as a “historic visit” since his last official visit in 2015.

"President Abbas will be visiting Gaza soon,” Minister of Public Works in the Palestinian Consensus Government said on Monday.


Hamas had announced on September 17 the dissolution of the administration committee at the Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed in 2011 with Fatah in Cairo.

Further development occurred when Hamas freed five Fatah men on Sunday, according to the national security sector statement.

Hamdallah’s first speech
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has given his first press conference in Gaza since 2015. “We appreciate Egyptian authorities' efforts to end the Palestinian dispute,” Hamdallah stressed.


Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah leads press conference in Gaza ahead of assuming its administration - Screenshot of Extra News

He added, “We came back to Gaza to accomplish Palestine's national unity and reconciliation.”

“Gaza’s disastrous situation is no longer bearable. Our priority is to end the suffering of our people in Gaza,” Hamdallah said.

Hamdallah declared that “the Consensus Government will assume its tasks and tackle Gaza's issues, including the employees' payment problems in accordance with the Cairo accord signed in 2011.”

Taking on Gaza’s administration

The new government’s first cabinet meeting will be held in Gaza, Tuesday morning at President Mahmoud Abbas’s house in Gaza where it is expected to form a number of ministerial committees to address the effects and consequences of the internal division as well as other civil, administrative and legal issues arising from the split.

The first cabinet meeting in Gaza is expected to tackle security, employees’ payments, electricity, crossing borders and ministries’ affairs.


Palestinian Police intensifies presence in Gaza Strip - File Photo

Fatah and Hamas movements shall meet again in Cairo next week to proceed with the reconciliation’s next phases.

Hamdallah's government delegation is visiting Shuja'iyya neighborhood district of Gaza where he pays a visit to some Gazians whose houses were destroyed in the last aggression on Gaza in 2014.

Egyptian President Sisi posters in Gaza


Sisi Posters in Gaza Strip- Twitter

Photos of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi have appeared in the streets of the Gaza Strip on Monday morning, expressing the Palestinians’ gratitude to the Egyptian efforts in reconciling Fatah and Hamas.


Palestinians holding Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's posters in Gaza - Twitter

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate organized a march on Monday morning praising Egyptian efforts in ending the Palestinian internal dispute between its two main factions; Fatah and Hamas.


Palestinians holding Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's posters in Gaza- Twitter

An Egyptian security delegation arrived in Gaza on Sunday to inspect the security situation in the region, in light of the efforts exerted in achieving a reconciliation deal between Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas.


Hamas chief Ismail Haniya (R) meets members of the Egyptian delegation in Gaza – AFP