Hamas, Fatah call to postpone transfer of power in Gaza

Palestinian rival Hamas and Fatah on Thursday called for the postponement of the transfer of power in Gaza, two days away from the deadline they had set for themselves in the reconciliation agreement brokered by Egypt.

"Hamas and Fatah call on Egypt to postpone the transfer of power (in Gaza) from December 1 to December 10 to finalize certain provisions," according to a statement by the Islamist Hamas movement.

Hamas agreed to transfer authority over the strip to Fatah, which controls the West Bank, as part of the reconciliation attempt, which seeks to end a decade long conflict between the two factions.