Political bureau member of Hamas Salah al-Bardawil called on the Palestinian unity government to assume its duties and lift its punitive measures on Gaza.
Speaking during a press conference held in the Gaza-based Hamas office al-Bardawil said the first protocol of the unity deal enabling the unity government to run Gaza’s affairs was signed on Thursday in Cairo and will be implemented simultaneously in the West Bank and Gaza.
“Hamas anticipates a presidential decision to cease penalties imposed on the Gaza Strip” he said.
The Hamas leader said a follow-up meeting will be held in the near future to assess the progress of the reconciliation agreement and its implementation on the ground.
A second meeting will be held in November to discuss procedures to form a unity government he further stated.
Al-Bardawil also said the reconciliation agreement stems from a sense of partnership and responsibility as regards the Palestinian people regardless of partisan affiliations.
On Thursday Fatah and Hamas signed a consensus agreement in Cairo in the presence of Egypt’s General Intelligence Chief Khaled Fawzi following a round of talks that started on Tuesday.
