Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation on the Rocks

The current bid to bring the rival Palestinian groups together to form a unity government is unraveling, this time due to Hamas' refusal to permit three senior Fatah officials to enter Gaza last week. PA President Mahmoud Abbas stated that Fatah would have to re-evaluate the reconciliation agreement signed last year in light of the “inadequate and humiliating” actions of Hamas officials.

Hamas responded by accusing Abbas of placing peace talks with Israel ahead of Palestinian unity, and stated that he "should bear full responsibility for the consequences of such a decision before the Palestinian people."