Hamas demanded the resignation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government in Ramallah, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, as a precondition for progress in reconciliation negotiations.
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said Tuesday that the existing PA government could not put an end to the split because it was part of the problem, not the solution.
"The solution for fixing the situation is the establishment of a national unity government based on representation of all factions as was agreed to in Beirut at the beginning of last year," said Abu Marzouk, adding: "The government will implement the reconciliation agreement from 2011."
The attack on Hamdallah’s government came one day after he announced that he is ready to implement all what would be agreed upon in Cairo between Hamas and Fatah, including the preparation to carry out presidential and legislative elections.
Hamas’s insistence to topple Hamdallah’s government was one of its conditions during its discussions with Egypt, in addition to its request to lift sanctions imposed by the PA on the Gaza Strip and a commitment by the PA to pay the salaries of government employees in Gaza.
Egyptian-sponsored talks on the reconciliation file haven’t seen any violation, but it has come to an end, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Egypt had given Palestinian delegations an opportunity to discuss "compromises,” the source stressed.
They explained that Hamas has agreed to "empower" the government, including the "controversial issues", only after adopting the "2011 agreement,” with respect to the security forces and factions’ arms.
In addition, the movement requested that the empowerment of the current government to be limited by a timeframe, followed by forming a government of national unity, whose task is to hold general presidential and legislative elections.
Sources pointed out that Fatah has refused to take control of Gaza according to the conditions and wants full empowerment by the current government.
They said after taking control of the strip, Fatah will be responsible for providing all necessary services.
The movement also refused to form a unity government now and wants to keep the Palestine Liberation Organization away from the current division.
