GAZA CITY: Palestinian reconciliation talks have made little progress, with Hamas insisting that the Palestinian Authority (PA) pay its employees’ salaries in the Gaza Strip, and the PA determined to exercise full governance of the territory.
“President Mahmoud Abbas is determined to achieve Palestinian reconciliation with Hamas, despite the obstacles to the empowerment of the national reconciliation government,” said Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of the central committee of Abbas’ Fatah party.
“When we finish with the empowerment of the government in Gaza, we’ll start with other files. We won’t take another step until we conclude the preceding step.”
Hamas-appointed employees reject the return of those from the PA — who worked in Palestinian ministries before Hamas’ takeover of Gaza in 2007 — until they are paid their salaries in accordance with the reconciliation deal.
The administrative committee formed after the agreement met on Tuesday in Gaza City to discuss the issue of salaries.
“The problem facing reconciliation is the obligations of the PA and its agreements that call for the renunciation of resistance and weapons,” said Saleh Aruri, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau.
Jamal Muhaisin, a member of Fatah’s central committee, said the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “is an important reason for reconciliation to continue and progress toward success.”
Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said a recent round of talks was obstructed by Fatah, “which refuses to lift the punitive measures imposed by the government … on the Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Parliament passed its first reading a bill allowing the execution of Palestinians involved in “terrorist” attacks.
“This decision is contrary to international law and the right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation by all means,” Muhaisin told Arab News.
“In the climate of our popular resistance, any talk about executions today amounts to playing with fire.”
Little progress in Palestinian reconciliation efforts
Little progress in Palestinian reconciliation efforts
UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities
- The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the move would “further impede” the agency’s ability to operate and carry out activities.
“The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used by UNRWA is inviolable,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said while adding that UNRWA is an “integral” part of the world body.
UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing “ systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct” the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.
In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
As a result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN considers territory occupied by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part of the country.
The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.
The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.
In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including health care. They said one in three health care facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.
