Bridging rift, giving hope

The recent accord struck between Fateh and Hamas in Cairo was received with relief by many Palestinians.

The agreement, signed in 2011, but never implemented so far, brings with it the promise of Palestinian unity. It will see the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza operated by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ presidential guards by November 1. Presidential guards will man all borders eventually.

The agreement also stipulates that legislative, presidential and national council elections will be conducted within one year of its signing, and would see Hamas and Fateh form an interim government before elections.

No further details have been made public yet.

The accord must come as a big relief to the people of Gaza who have suffered under a devastating Israeli siege following Hamas’ win in the 2007 parliamentary elections, after which the movement became the de facto ruler in the strip, starting a feud with Fateh, which refused to recognise the results of the vote.

This time, the situation is different and the agreement will hopefully last.

Over the last few months, the PA measures against Gaza, aimed at compelling Hamas to relinquish control of the strip, seem to have made the Islamic movement buckle under the pressure.

The punitive measures included cutting the salaries of PA employees living in Gaza and reducing the electricity supply to the strip, which already suffers from a power shortage due to the Israeli blockade.

Hamas finally reached the pragmatic decision to make peace with Fateh and thus put an end to the hardships endured by the people of Gaza.

The poverty rate in Gaza Strip, where 2 million people live, reached 60 per cent; in the West Bank it stands at 18 per cent. The difference could not be more telling, and the PA probably attributes this to its prudent policies.

Fateh wants to restore full control over all Palestinian territories unoccupied by Israel, hoping that this will strengthen its hand if peace talks ever restart.

The Palestinian unity will, in the short term, alleviate the suffering of the Gaza population. Later, it is hoped it will give way to a political course of action that may help Palestinians achieve the desired statehood, free from Israeli occupation.