Rival Palestinian factions meet in Gaza to discuss joint rally

Senior Fatah and Hamas officials are meeting today in Gaza to discuss a planned joint rally to be held in the coming days, according to Hamas-linked Al-Resalah news.

Leaders of the rival Palestinian movements are scheduled to speak, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh.

“This will begin a new era of relations between Hamas and Fatah,” says Hamas senior official Hussam Badran.

A violent conflict between the two movements resulted in Hamas expelling Fatah from the Gaza Strip in 2007. Since then, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to create a unified Palestinian political front. Although Abbas speaking in a joint rally with Hamas in Gaza could be a major symbolic step in that direction, many Palestinians remain deeply skeptical that the two parties are serious about reaching an accord.

— Aaron Boxerman