Palestinian gov’t assumes responsibilities in Gaza: PM

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Tuesday his government has begun to assume its responsibilities in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Ramallah, he said the government will form a number of ministerial committees to oversee the handover of crossings and security and government departments in the seaside enclave, which has been ruled by Hamas group since 2007.

“The committees will also follow up and address administrative and legal issues of the inter-Palestinian rift,” he said.

Hamdallah is expected to arrive in Gaza on Monday to chair a cabinet meeting for the first time in three years.

There has been a decade-long split between Gaza and the occupied West Bank since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave, following internal disputes sparked by Hamas's victory in 2006 elections, which was rejected by rival Fatah group and the international community.

Despite several rounds of unity talks, agreements about a unity government to end the divide between Gaza and the West Bank have not been previously implemented.

Hamas has now called for the unity government to take over its duties and for elections to be held following its decision to dissolving the administrative committee it had set up in March to manage the Gaza Strip.