Fatah: We talk with Hamas to empower gov’t in Gaza, hold elections

CAIRO – 10 October 2017: Osama al-Qawasmi, Fatah movement spokesman, confirmed on Tuesday that the current dialogue with Hamas sponsored by Egypt aims to enable a consensus government to fully operate in Gaza.

“We also seek to empower the consensus government with all the security and economic aspects to hold presidential and legislative elections as agreed,” added Qawasmi.

"We want to extend the rule of law in Gaza and West Bank, as one geographic unit and one people, to reach one authority with one law and one weapon, on a clear national basis," Qawasmi said in a press statement.

The Fatah spokesman said that Fatah is acting on the instructions of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the leaders of the movement who are exerting all efforts to have a successful dialogue, adding that it is not permissible to fail or retreat.
Qawasmi appreciated Egypt’s role and its distinguished efforts to end the Palestinian division.

The Social Reconciliation Accord in Cairo aimed to restore unity among Palestinian political factions in 2011, following four years of conflict that erupted in 2007. It was inked by the Egyptian authority in 2009, and was accepted by Fatah and Hamas in May 2011 following Palestinian demonstrations.