The Hamas government announced Saturday that it has given Fatah permission to
hold rallies in the Gaza Strip marking its 48th anniversary.
The
Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry has accepted a Fatah request to hold the
celebrations, a senior Hamas official said. The official said the decision was
made in the context of efforts to achieve reconciliation between the two
groups.
The Hamas government had banned Fatah celebrations in Gaza since
the Islamist movement seized control over the Strip in 2007.
Last week,
the Palestinian Authority permitted Hamas to celebrate its 25th anniversary in
Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm and Ramallah in the West Bank, marking the first time
Hamas held public rallies there since 2007.
On Saturday, Fatah leaders in
the Gaza Strip met with top Hamas officials to seek permission to hold the
celebrations later this month.
Yehya Rabah, a senior Fatah official, said
that he had good reason to believe that the celebrations would take place for
the first time since 2007.
“We have received permission in principle to
hold the rallies,” Rabah said. “Now we are waiting for a final
license.”
He said that Fatah has invited Hamas leaders and
representatives in the Gaza Strip to attend the celebrations. Fatah leaders
participated in last week’s Hamas celebrations in the West Bank.
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