Palestinian PM to visit Gaza Strip
Spokesman says Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will visit Gaza Wednesday as Hamas reaffirms commitment to unity government
Wednesday's visit will be the second for Hamdallah to the Gaza Strip since the formation of a unity government in June of 2014
Published date: 24 March 2015 00:03 GMT
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Last update: 9 years 1 month ago
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will visit the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, a government spokesman said Monday."
A government delegation will accompany the Prime Minister during his visit to Gaza," unity government spokesman Ihab Bseiso told The Anadolu Agency.
He said talks between Hamdallah and Gaza's officials would focus on ways to solve the problems of the blockaded territory.
He added that top on the agenda of the talks would be the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following a devastating Israeli offensive last summer, which left more than 2,160 Palestinians dead and thousands of homes and public facilities in ruin.
Hamdallah and accompanying government officials, Bseiso said, will meet with representatives of all Palestinian factions in Gaza during the visit.
Wednesday's visit will be the second for Hamdallah to the Gaza Strip since the formation of a unity government in June of 2014. He visited the territory for the first time on 9 October.
On Sunday, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that his movement remained committed to a Gaza-West Bank unity government.
He called upon "all Palestinian people to achieve real reconciliation and put into effect the agreements reached in Doha, Cairo and al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza", Ma'an News Agency quoted him as saying.
Haniyeh's comments came at a news conference commemorating the 11-year anniversary of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yasin's assassination by Israel.
The unity government has not yet assumed political control of the Gaza Strip, with Hamas still the de facto rulers of the tiny enclave.
The Islamist movement took control of Gaza in 2007, after it won legislative elections and clashes erupted between Hamas and Fatah.
Following Hamas' takeover, Israel ramped up restrictions on Gaza, culminating in a blockade that severely limits imports and exports and the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the Strip.
He added that top on the agenda of the talks would be the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following a devastating Israeli offensive last summer, which left more than 2,160 Palestinians dead and thousands of homes and public facilities in ruin.
Hamdallah and accompanying government officials, Bseiso said, will meet with representatives of all Palestinian factions in Gaza during the visit.
Wednesday's visit will be the second for Hamdallah to the Gaza Strip since the formation of a unity government in June of 2014. He visited the territory for the first time on 9 October.
On Sunday, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that his movement remained committed to a Gaza-West Bank unity government.
He called upon "all Palestinian people to achieve real reconciliation and put into effect the agreements reached in Doha, Cairo and al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza", Ma'an News Agency quoted him as saying.
Haniyeh's comments came at a news conference commemorating the 11-year anniversary of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yasin's assassination by Israel.
The unity government has not yet assumed political control of the Gaza Strip, with Hamas still the de facto rulers of the tiny enclave.
The Islamist movement took control of Gaza in 2007, after it won legislative elections and clashes erupted between Hamas and Fatah.
Following Hamas' takeover, Israel ramped up restrictions on Gaza, culminating in a blockade that severely limits imports and exports and the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the Strip.
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