The Fatah movement, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and administering the West Bank, is insisting that Hamas recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and cease making unilateral decisions on their behalf.
A Fatah representative told Al Hadath that their movement "demands Hamas recognize the PLO as the exclusive representative of the Palestinian people." He accused Hamas, which previously governed Gaza, of disregarding inter-Palestinian agreements and making decisions unilaterally "for the entire Palestinian nation."
The spokesperson noted that Fatah has not yet decided whether to participate in ongoing inter-Palestinian factional talks in Cairo.
This follows reports that Hamas leadership has held consultations in Cairo with delegations from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), discussing post-war governance in Gaza, potential Hamas disarmament, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping contingent.
The current political division dates to 2007, when Hamas seized control of Gaza after winning parliamentary elections, creating a rift with the more moderate Fatah movement that continues to administer the West Bank. President Abbas and his supporters have repeatedly stated their goal of restoring the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction over Gaza.
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Based on materials from TASS