Fatah official: Hamas must hand over Gaza rule for reconciliation
July 27, 2015 12:03 P.M. (Updated: July 27, 2015 12:45 P.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=766664

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Hamas must hand over rule of the Gaza Strip as
acondition to forming a unity government,Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said
Sunday.

Hamas has to "lift their hands" from the Gaza Strip and allow the unity
government to work according to agreements signed by the Palestinian
factions, al-Ahmad told Ma'an.

Al-Ahmad, who heads reconciliation talks for Fatah,added that his Hamas
counterpart, Moussa Abu Marzouq is "unqualified" to call for a unity
government after their work was "foiled" by Hamas.

The unity government formed in June 2014 has repeatedly failed to overcome
divisive issues between political factions Fatah and Hamas, and last month
it was announced at a Fatah council meeting that the entire government would
soon be dissolved.

Negotiations on the new Palestinian government were set to restart after the
Eid celebrations marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier this month, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah
criticized Hamas for creating a shadow government in the Gaza Strip and
blocking efforts to reach political unity.

Hamas has in turn accused the PA of executing a plan to "eradicate" the
movement from the West Bank, saying that an arrest campaign of over 200
members was carried out by the PA to target reconciliation efforts between
the two factions.