By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian factions are expected to meet in the Egyptian capital Cairo in the coming weeks to discuss a possible ceasefire with Israel and the resumption of an internal Palestinian dialogue, said an official with the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) on Wednesday.
Naffez Azzam, a senior Jihad leader, told reporters that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party and its rival Hamas movement will also join the discussions in Egypt.
Azzam said the meetings are likely to be held before the end of this month, adding that the Egyptians “were very serious to achieve a Palestinian-Palestinian deal to bridge the internal gap and end a state of divisions between Gaza and the West Bank.”
The Palestinian delegations are expected to receive the invitation to Cairo next week, according to Azzam.
The announcement came as Egypt intensified mediation efforts between the Palestinians and Israel to broker a ceasefire.
Israel had imposed a strict siege and stepped up military operations in the Gaza Strip since last June when Hamas took over the coastal enclave by force from pro-Abbas security forces.
Between late February and early this month, the Israeli army launched a major military operation against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip during which some 123 Palestinians were killed and hundreds of others injured.
Following the Gaza infighting last June, Abbas dismissed a Hamas-led government and formed his own cabinet that rules from the West Bank.
The deadly infighting also brought an end to a national dialogue between Abbas’ Fatah and Hamas movements.