Hamas, Fatah to complete Gaza handover by Dec. 1

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Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah on Thursday agreed to complete the handover of administrative control of Gaza to a unity government by December 1, a statement from Egypt's state information service said.

Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal in Cairo on Thursday aimed at ending their decade-long split following negotiations overseen by Egypt, negotiators told AFP. It was signed by new Hamas deputy leader Salah al-Aruri and Azzam al-Ahmad and the head of the Fatah delegation for the talks, according to Fatah and Hamas sources in the negotiations.

Palestinians celebrate after Hamas said it reached a deal with rival Fatah, in Gaza City, October 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will visit Gaza for the first time in a decade, a top official in his Fatah Party said.

Abbas "will be in Gaza within less than a month," said Zakaria al-Agha, a senior Fatah leader in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas is expected to reverse sanctions imposed against Hamas following the agreement. One of the key issues has been punitive measures against Gaza in recent months, including reducing electricity payments that left the territory's residents with only a few hours of power a day. "All the measures taken recently will end very shortly," Agha added.

A man holds a picture of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during celebrations after Hamas said it reached a deal with rival Fatah, in Gaza City, October 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Since the near civil war in 2007, the two Palestinian factions have been at loggerheads – complicating any potential peace talks with Israel. Multiple previous reconciliation talks have failed.

Last month, Hamas agreed to cede civil power in Gaza but the fate of its vast military wing is a significant stumbling block and the group remains effectively in charge in the enclave.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters