By Xinhua,
Gaza : Talks between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement were postponed due to American and Israeli pressures on Fatah, a Hamas leader said on Tuesday.
“The dialogue was postponed because these sides want to prevent a national reconciliation,” Mahmoud Zahar, a Gaza-based leader, said.
As the dialogue is ruled out, Zahar said that Hamas’ priorities became the opening of Rafah crossing point between Gaza and Egypt “since it is the main artery of the Gaza Strip residents.”
Israel and Egypt maintained the closure of the only travelers’ crossing since Hamas took over Gaza.
On June 19, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel to restore calmness and ease the siege on the Strip.
Zahar added that second priorities were boosting the ceasefire to “completely lift the siege on Gaza” and releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza.
“Egypt will convey Hamas’ vision to Israel regarding the captive soldier Gilad Shalit,” Zahar said, adding that Hamas wants1,000 prisoners to be released in exchange for the soldier who has been held since June 2006.
Abbas fired a Hamas-led coalition when the Islamic movement routed his forces and ousted his movement in deadly fighting in Gaza last year. But Hamas rejected the decision and boosted its rule in the coastal enclave, politically separating it from the West Bank where Abbas moved his power.