A great deal of ambivalence persists as to the position adopted by the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) regarding a much-praised decision by Hamas to disband Gaza’s administrative committee.
Abbas only commented on Hamas’s move in a brief statement released by the PA-run WAFA News Agency in which Abu Mazen was quoted as expressing his satisfaction with the Cairo-brokered decision announced by Hamas.
Abbas’s reticence has been attributed to his current dedication to the coming session of the United Nations General Assembly slated to be held in New York.
Abbas arrived in New York on Sunday to take part in the proceedings of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. He is to meet US President Donald Trump there on Wednesday ahead of his speech at the UN on Wednesday.
The government of Abbas Sunday said there was a “historic chance” to end a long-running rift with Hamas hours after the latter pledged key concessions on its control of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said it was ready to hold general elections both in the enclave and the West Bank.
Hamas also promised to dissolve a disputed administrative committee in Gaza and invited Abbas’s government to assume responsibility in the coastal enclave.
The group’s announcement came after talks in Cairo between officials from Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah party with Egyptian intelligence officials.
“This round of talks sponsored by Egypt represents a real historic chance to end divisions” spokesman for the Palestinian government Youssef al-Mahmoud said.
“Hamas’s decision to dissolve its administrative committee is a step in the right direction” he added in a statement.
The spokesman was cautious about showing too much optimism however.
“There should be clarifications for the nature of this decision and the [Palestinian] government should take over all ministries and [border] crossings” al-Mahmoud said.
