Politics
08:17, 11-Dec-2017
Palestinian unity government takes official control of Gaza
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The Palestinian unity government has officially taken control of Gaza, as part of a landmark reconciliation deal.
The handover process in the Gaza Strip came after Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah resolved remaining stumbling blocks, ending a decade-long split.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met with Hamas leaders in Gaza last week. Hamdallah vowed at a press conference that his government has plans to resolve major problems in Gaza.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (L) shakes hands with Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City, Oct. 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (L) shakes hands with Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City, Oct. 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo
"The government has conducted a comprehensive survey of the former employees and instructed its ministers and the directors of its associations to return the former employees to their posts according to the need and the interest of the government work," he said.
Fatah and Hamas had previously traded accusations about a lack of commitment to the October reconciliation deal, delaying Gaza's final handover by 10 days. Under the agreement, Hamas should have handed over all governing duties to the Palestinian Authority at the beginning of December.
In the end, observers say the rival factions worked out their differences.
In a statement published over the weekend, Hamas demanded the unity government fully carry out its obligations toward Gaza, lift the sanctions imposed on its people, and devote more time to oppose the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.