Hamas political bureau leader Kahled Meshaal and PA President Mahmoud Abbas Gaza – Mohammed Habib Palestinian political faction Hamas has stated that they are ready to implement the terms of the national reconciliation, considering any further doubts to its intentions an attempt to evade commitment to the Cairo and Doha agreements.
Hamas leader Ismail Radwan stated that his movement was willing to fully commit to the reconciliation by forming a transitional government and preparing for legislative and presidential elections, as well as the National Council, in addition to implementing decisions from the Cairo agreement.
Radwan on Wednesday called on President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah to simultaneously implement the Cairo and Doha agreements.
He also expressed regret over the current existence of political detainees and restrictions imposed on Hamas in the West Bank.
Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh, the coordinator of Public Freedoms Committee in Gaza, said that so far there have been no new updates in the political detainees issue in both the West Bank and Gaza, saying that talks are now addressing the release of all prisoners of both parties.
Al-Batsh said the lists of political detainees in prisons at the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was ready for a long time, stating that the Egyptian side was well informed of freedoms committee affairs.
He also said that the Egyptian authorities were helping implement the reconciliation, in addition to efforts made by Fatah\'s Azzam Al-Ahmad-led delegation to end the political prisoners issue.
For his part, Al-Ahmad stated on Tuesday, that forming the government was put off for two weeks upon Hamas’s request.
Al-Ahmad said in a press statement that it was agreed to postpone discussing the new government upon Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal’s request, though he considered talks as key to ending the division.
The Fatah leader said on Tuesday that Hamas continues to prevent the Central Elections Commission (CEC) from working in the Gaza Strip.
“It had been agreed that the CEC will start working on December 23, 2011…two months and a week later, Hamas still prevents the commission from working in Gaza without reason,” said Al-Ahmad.
He alleged that some Hamas leaders in Gaza didn’t want to end the Palestinian division for their own personal agendas.
Hamas promised to release 18 political detainees from Fatah, said Al-Ahmad, stating that other political detainees were also released.