Islam Times - Senior Hamas official arrives in Gaza for reconciliation talks

Islam Times - Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq arrived in Gaza via the Rafah crossing on Monday, where he was welcomed by a delegation of Hamas and Fatah officials.

The senior official, who is based in Egypt, arrived in the besieged territory for reconciliation talks with a delegation of PLO officials.

Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad, secretary general of the Palestinian People's Party, Bassam al-Salhi, secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa al-Barghouthi, secretary general of the Palestinian Arab Front, Jamil Shehada, and businessman Munib al-Masri are due to arrive in Gaza over the next 48 hours.

Abu Marzouq will join other Hamas officials at the home of Gaza PM Ismail Haniyeh for pre-meeting discussions.

The division between Fatah and Hamas began in 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.

In the following year, clashes erupted between the two factions, leaving Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.

The factions have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.