Riot in Gaza (archive photo)
Photo: AP
Fatah, Hamas agree to end violence
Palestinians hopeful that agreement reached between factions through Egyptian mediation on cessation of hostilities will hold
As the end of the Ramadan holiday nears and the Eid il-Fitr holiday approaches, Palestinians are hopeful that the agreement reached between Hamas and Fatah on the cessation of hostilities will hold.
The internal fighting in the Strip culminated three weeks ago when 13 Palestinians were killed during gunfights between rival factions.
The agreement, which was reached through the mediation of Egypt’s permanent security delegation to Gaza, calls for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to incitement and mudslinging on Palestinian media outlets.
Among other things, the agreement calls for the establishment of a joint bureau that will handle any future crisis, should one arise, and the establishment of a committee that would monitor the parties’ media-related strategies.
The agreement is not the first reached through Egyptian mediation, but PA officials are hopeful that this time the deal will hold at least until after the holiday, so that citizens, mainly those in Gaza, may rejoice and enjoy a break from the incessant exchanges of fire and assassinations.
