Shaath greeted in Gaza
Photo: Reuters
Shaath in Gaza for 1st time since Hamas takeover
Member of Fatah's Central Committee arrives in Strip as Abbas' official delegate in order to 'examine the residents' suffering' and look into options to resume reconciliation talks with rival faction. Hamas approves visit, but lowers expectations
Senior Fatah
official Dr. Nabil Shaath visited Gaza on Wednesday for the first time since Hamas
took over the Strip in 2007.
Shaath, who comes from Gaza, said he had arrived as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' official delegate in order to examine the suffering of local residents, a year after Operation Cast Lead.
Shaath, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, added that his visit was also aimed at trying to reach an understanding on national unity with Hamas and put an end to the Palestinian rift. He said he would meet with representatives of all the Palestinian factions, including representatives of the Hamas movement.
The Fatah official clarified that the Palestinians are interested in internal reconciliation and are united in the opinion that the Israeli blockade on the Strip must end.
"I am here in order to cry out to the world of evil – you cannot leave a people under an ongoing siege," he said. "We must sign a reconciliation document, and we don't need another round of discussions like the one taking place in the past two years."
Hamas members confirmed in recent days that talks had been held to allow senior Fatah officials to visit the Strip. Movement sources said, however, that they did not have high expectations from Shaath's visit.
"We are not preventing any decent representative from entering the Strip," said senior Hamas member Dr. Salah Bardawil, "but we don't have many hopes for the results of the visits, even if it does generate a new dialogue with the Fatah movement."
