One day after the Hamas Movement dissolved its administrative committee in Gaza head of its political bureau Ismail Haneyya on Monday spoke over the phone with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas for the first time in nearly a year to discuss the current reconciliation efforts.
The two Palestinian leaders had not spoken since meeting in Qatar in October 2016.
During the phone conversation Haneyya highlighted the need to maintain the positive atmosphere of reconciliation after Hamas disbanded the administrative committee and invited the government of Rami al-Hamdallah to assume its responsibilities in Gaza.
A statement released by Hamas quoted Haneyya as saying that his Movement is “determined to move ahead with steps to end the division with the aim of uniting the Palestinian people in the face of challenges and threats.”
The Hamas official expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian role in sponsoring the efforts to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation and end the division.
He also expressed hope that Abbas could assert the Palestinian rights and constants during his participation in the meetings of the UN General Assembly.
