Palestinian officials expressed optimism on Thursday that a fresh ceasefire with Israel could help the formation of a unity government.

Independent lawmaker Mustafa al-Barghouti considered the calmness in northern Gaza Strip as a key factor that ended the suffering of the people there.

During the talks on the unity government, northern Gaza Strip was the scene of Israeli offensive that claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians.

For their part, Hamas movement said the track of unity government was separated from other tracks, but asserted reaching agreements on all levels "will speed up the government's formation. "

Concerning the talks of the government, Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan revealed new obstacles on the way, terming them as "big evasions."

"There was an earlier agreement that every faction can nominate what portfolios they want to hold in the new government, but we hear a veto on Hamas right to select its portfolios," Radwan clarified, saying this issue was an example of the new obstacles.

The subject of controversy was the portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Finance.

Based on their majority in the parliament, Hamas demands the control of the major portfolios while President Mahmoud Abbas prefers to commission those ministries to independent professionals who are acceptable to the international community.

Meanwhile, al-Barghouti has unsaid earlier remarks that the unity government would come into being by the end of November. " Now, Haneya and President Abbas and I have stressed the end of this month has to witness a development in the talks," said al- Brghouti.

Talks on replacing the Hamas-led government have taken months, but the clear thing is the agreement on the new Prime Minister who is Gaza-based academician Mohammed Shubair.

Source: Xinhua