Key Palestinian factions opened talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo on Monday.
Discussions between Fatah and Hamas, are aimed at paving the way for the first elections in the West Bank and Gaza since 2006. Egyptian state television reports that negotiations are under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt continues its full efforts to end the Palestinian division, and did not hesitate to offer all kinds of support to Palestine to restore unity. Egypt believes that achieving reconciliation in Palestine will have a positive effect on the ability of the Palestinian people to move on in the negotiations process and achieve its goals , said Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry.
Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas said Tuesday they had agreed on "mechanisms" for forthcoming elections and to respect their outcome, after years of bitter divisions. In a joint statement on the second day of talks between Palestinian factions in Cairo, they said they had agreed a timeline for the polls and "committed to respecting and accepting their results". The deal provides for an "electoral court" with exclusive jurisdiction over.
Passengers on Tuesday crossed the Rafah border travelling from the Gaza Strip into Egypt, after it opened following an Egyptian announcement to let through incoming traffic until further notice.
The opening comes after talks Monday in Cairo cleared the way for the first elections in the West Bank and Gaza since 2006.
Key Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas are taking part in the talks, Egypt s state television said. The national dialogue sessions are underway in Cairo under the auspices of (Egyptian) President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, it reported.
Before his departure to Cairo, Fatah s delegation head Jibril Rajub was upbeat: We are confident we will overcome any obstacles in going ahead with legislative elections slated for May 22.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaking to reporters on February 2, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed that the court has territorial jurisdiction over events which take place in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
In January 2019, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda concluded a preliminary examination into Israel’s policies and actions in occupied Palestinian territory and concluded that the criteria were met for proceeding with an investigation.
The next month, Bensouda asked the court for a ruling on the scope of its territorial jurisdiction. The publication of that ruling last week clears the way for Bensouda to investigate and potentially prosecute Israeli military and political officials for war crimes related to Israel’s illegal colonization of Palestinian land in the West Bank and its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Rival Palestinian factions agreed yesterday on steps aimed at ensuring Palestinian elections are held as planned later this year and pledged to respect their results, a joint statement said. No Palestinian elections have been conducted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem for 15 years amid a deep rift between President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah nationalist