HANIYEH WELCOMES UNITY CABINET MEETING IN GAZA

Gaza, 13 Dzulhijjah 1435/7 October 2014 (MINA) – Deputy chief of the Political Office of Palestinian faction Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on Monday welcomed a decision by the newly formed Palestinian national unity government to hold a meeting in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

“Hamas welcomes the meeting of the government in Gaza for the first time since its formation in June,” Haniyeh said as he received Gazans who went to congratulate him on the Muslim al-Adha feast.

He called on security agencies in the embattled Palestinian territory to work hard to prepare for the meeting, Al-Ray Media Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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Haniyeh expressed hopes that the first meeting of the national unity government in Gaza would open the door for resuming discussions on pending issues in the reconciliation between the two Palestinian rival movements Hamas and Fatah.

Earlier on Monday, Palestinian Labor Minister Mamoun Abu Shahla said Israeli authorities had agreed to give Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and other cabinet ministers permits to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip.

He added that the visit would take place on Thursday upon a promise by Israeli authorities to allow cabinet members to visit the Gaza Strip through Erez crossing.

Since its formation in June, Israel has never allowed the members of the Palestinian unity government to visit the Gaza Strip.

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Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation deal in April to heal seven years of divisions, ones that led to the presence of two separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza.

The deal has ushered in a unity government in June. The new government, however, has yet to assume political control of the Gaza Strip.(T/R05/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)