Hamas, Fatah reach partial agreement in Egypt

Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah have made a breakthrough in direct talks to form a national unity government in the Gaza Strip.

A partial agreement on governing the Gaza Strip was reached after the two sides held talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Thursday, said a Hamas official, whose name was not mentioned in the reports.

However, the official added that certain issues remain unresolved, including the salaries of former Hamas employees and the management of security forces.

The partial agreement comes as Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian national unity government, recently accused Hamas of running what he called a parallel government in Gaza.

The Israeli regime has pressured Abbas to avoid forming a unity government with Hamas. However, Abbas has so far ignored the Israeli pressure.

Palestinians say the Tel Aviv regime imposed its latest war on the besieged Gaza Strip in July to scuttle the unity government.

Some 2,140 Palestinians, mostly civilians including women, children and elderly people, were killed in the Israeli onslaught and around 11,000 others were injured.

On April 23, Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which includes Fatah, pledged to settle their differences and form a unity government. Under the long-awaited deal, Hamas and Fatah established the unity government in June.

Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006. The dispute marginalized Hamas’ governance to the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Fatah, however, set up headquarters in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank.