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Hamas sets conditions to join new Palestine unity gov't, says to mull on opening of key crossing

Xinhua, January 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Islamic Hamas movement said on Wednesday that it is ready to join a newly formed Palestinian unity government if it ends security cooperation with Israel.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that the conditions for his movement to be a part of the unity government are related to ending the Palestinian National Authorities (PNA)' policy of discrimination against Gazans, issuing proper political decisions that fit with their "sacrifices," as well as terminating security cooperation with Israel.

In 2007, Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip following weeks of internal fighting with Abbas Fatah Party. Efforts to end this internal division between them had so far failed to achieve full reconciliation between them.

The two rivals, Hamas and Abbas Fatah Party, have been arguing on the issue of ruling the Gaza Strip, since the two sides agreed on forming a consensus government in June 2014, mainly on security issues.

President Abbas said recently that he insists on ending the internal division and called on Hamas movement to join the new national unity government.

The endless feud between Hamas and the Fatah Party has maintained the key crossing point of Rafah between Gaza and Egypt closed, a senior leader in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said.

Rafah crossing is the only exit for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to the outside world.

Two weeks ago, several Palestinian factions, mainly Palestinian left-wing parties, offered an initiative to the two rivals on the crossing, which remained closed for several years.

Egypt has opened the crossing partially for just a number of times on humanitarian grounds for pilgrims, patients and students. In 2015, the crossing has been opened for only 19 days, according to Palestinian official statistics.

Cairo refuses to keep the crossing permanently open amid mounting militant attacks on police and army forces in Sinai peninsula, and wants the PNA to restore the control of the crossing from Hamas in order to keep it open.

On Tuesday, Zuhri said in an emailed press statement that his movement welcomed ideas and proposals from all sides on the Rafah crossing.

"Hamas movement will study and debate all these proposals and initiatives to reopen the crossing, relax our people's suffering and achieve a full national partnership," said Abu Zuhri. Endit