Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Wednesday called on Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to end its control of the Gaza Strip, saying the takeover has negative impact on the peace talks with Israel.
"Every time we hold negotiation with the Israelis, the issue of the Gaza Strip being controlled by Hamas is raised. The takeover is like a sword pointed at our necks," Erekat told reporters in Ramallah.
In last June, Hamas militants took control of the Gaza Strip and routed the security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas following weeks of bloody fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah movements.
Erekat stressed that "Gaza takeover must end and all the commitments of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have to be respected in order to achieve a national unity and avoid the current ongoing crisis."
"I wonder why does Hamas continue its Gaza takeover, and why does it still reject to deal with the Palestinian legal leadership and the PLO," said Erekat.
On Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a three-hour session which "tackled the permanent status issues," Erekat said, without elaborating.
"We can't right now get into the accurate details but the meeting focused on the permanent status issues," Erekat said.
Source: Xinhua
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