Hamas leader Ismail Haniya reiterated his party’s readiness for Palestinian reconciliation yesterday, on his return from Egypt to the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday the Islamist party, which rules Gaza, announced it was willing to cede to a series of demands by president Mahmoud Abbas’ rival Fatah party and backed plans for new elections.
Chief among the Egyptian-brokered concessions was dissolving the so-called administration committee.
“The administrative committee in the Gaza Strip is no longer functioning,” Haniyeh told a news conference at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. “We are ready now to receive the national consensus government to enter the Gaza Strip.”
He added that the party was ready to return to Egypt for direct talks with Fatah over the next steps.
“We are ready to return in a few days to Cairo to resume the dialogue,” Haniya added, stressing he was “committed to the success” of reconciliation.
On Monday Haniya spoke with Abbas for the first time in nearly a year, and Fatah officials have said they expect prime minister Rami Hamdallah to visit Gaza in the coming days. A poll yesterday found that two thirds of Palestinians want Abbas to stand down, with just a quarter supporting the 82-year-old.
Presidential elections have not been held since 2005, while parliamentary ones last occurred in 2006.
The poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found 67% of Palestinians wanted Abbas to step down, up from 62% three months ago.
In the West Bank, where Abbas is based, 60% wanted him out, while in Gaza it 
was 80%.




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