Hamas and Fatah are discussing an agreement to form a National Unity Government to facilitate the construction of Gaza after Israel ends its genocidal war on the enclave, Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, said on Wednesday.
The agreement was discussed during the recent meeting held between Rajoub and the head of Hamas’s political bureau Ismail Haniyeh in the Qatari capital, Doha.
In an interview with Al-Sharq TV yesterday, Rajoub added: “I met with Ismail Haniyeh and several members of the political bureau of Hamas, and I presented these ideas, and there is a common ground that can be developed.”
He explained that ending the division and forming a national unity government requires a meeting between the Fatah and Hamas movements, followed by a meeting of all political forces, based on three principles: “The unity of Palestinian territories (the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem), agreement on the foundations of a political solution, ending the war on Gaza, Israeli withdrawal and lifting the siege, and forming a National Unity Government.”
He clarified that the members of the government required to rebuild the Gaza Strip “must be credible, capable of action and movement, and the government must have the trust of the citizens and the blessing and agreement of all factions of national work, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.”
Israel intensifies attacks on Rafah
Israeli occupation forces intensified their attacks in the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight as their fighter jets struck three homes killing 24 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, the Ministry of Health reported.
Rafah, home to more than half of the two million Palestinians who have been forced out of their homes across Gaza, was designated a “safe zone” by occupation authorities, however in recent days they have vowed to move their military offensive into the area.
On Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that the Israeli army was preparing to move to Rafah.
However, Israel media reported on Saturday that Tel Aviv had pledged to Egypt it would not start an operation in Rafah before Palestinians taking refuge there were moved out of the area.
According to the Israeli media, Tel Aviv plans to move the displaced Palestinians back to Khan Yunis or Deir Al Balah, but would not allow them back to northern Gaza. This, they added, was proof that Palestinians from northern Gaza are being used as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.
Source: Middle East Monitor
