Fatah, Hamas to hold direct talks in Moscow meeting on Feb. 28

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Feb 2024 17:05
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The Fatah and Hamas Palestinian factions are set to engage in direct talks during inter-Palestinian meetings in Moscow, aiming to address differences and pursue unity.

A Palestinian living in Cyprus waves a Palestinian flag at Elephtheria, Liberty, square in capital Nicosia, Sunday, May 16, 2021 (AP)

The Fatah and Hamas Palestinian factions are due to partaking in direct talks during the inter-Palestinian gatherings in Moscow, as stated by Ayman al-Raqab, a member of Fatah's leadership body, Sputnik reported on Wednesday.

The previous week, Palestinian factions affirmed their intention to convene in Moscow on February 28 for the inter-Palestinian talks, focusing on resolving differences and exploring avenues for unity.

"I expect a direct dialogue [between Fatah and Hamas], as all factions will be present at this meeting. Everybody has agreed [on talks], therefore the dialogue will happen," al-Raqab told Sputnik.

He added that the Fatah leadership anticipates Palestinian factions may declare the establishment of a technocratic joint government subsequent to the Moscow discussions.

Why is this happening?

Divisions between the two parties have been rife, particularly since Fatah began engaging in negotiations with Saudi Arabia regarding a possible normalization of Saudi-Israeli ties.

Prior to the outbreak of the war on Gaza, a delegation from the Palestinian Authority visited Riyadh to engage in negotiations concerning the terms for endorsing Saudi Arabia's initiative to normalize ties with "Israel."

These conditions encompassed the reopening of the US consulate in occupied Al-Quds, securing US backing for comprehensive Palestinian representation at the United Nations, and attaining increased control over territories within the occupied West Bank.

This strategy represented a notable departure from the Palestinian Authority's previous responses to Bahrain and the UAE normalizing relations with "Israel" in 2020, during which it denounced the Gulf states for betrayal.

But it also exacerbated the gap with the coastal enclave, the latter of which has been subject to much more severe forms of blockades in comparison to the occupied West Bank.

Lavrov calls on Palestinian factions to unite

On January 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the crucial necessity to restore unity among Palestinians.

"It seems absolutely necessary to make an effort to rebuild Palestinian unity for all Palestinian factions and all those who are working with them from abroad for them to get together and announce rebuilding of Palestinian unity as an important foundation for a future Palestinian state," Lavrov said after his visit to New York.

Without achieving Palestinian unity, Lavrov said, the mechanisms currently under discussion will lack viability.

Elsewhere in his comments, he said that proposals between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli regime for a ceasefire only divert attention from the "essence of the problem," which is the actual need to establish an immediate ceasefire.

"This is a trade that is ongoing and it distracts attention from the essence of the problem," the top diplomat said. "The substance needs to be an immediate ceasefire."