Rami Hamdallah began his visit with a message of reconciliation, shortly after arriving in a 30-vehicle motorcade through the Erez border crossing separating Israel and Gaza. He was accompanied by a large delegation of Fatah officials from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, dozens of aides and armed bodyguards. “The only way to statehood is through unity,” Hamdallah said, speaking at a welcome ceremony attended by Fatah and Hamas officials. “We are coming to Gaza again to deepen the reconciliation and end the split.”Some 2,000 people greeted Hamdallah’s delegation at the border. While previous attempts at reconciliation have failed, years of international isolation and steadily worsening conditions in Gaza appear to have pushed Hamas toward compromise this time around.

Source: Egypt Independent October 02, 2017 11:26 UTC