Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat – Fatah Central Committee Member Dr. Nabil Shaath told Asharq Al-Awsat shortly after his return from the Gaza Strip that his meetings with Hamas officials put an end to the division between the two movements and has opened the door to the future and a new spirit of reconciliation.

Shaath confirmed that he and the [Hamas] movement’s leadership exchanged ideas about reconciliation, unity and measures on the ground.

The Fatah senior official stated that he felt a genuine desire among Hamas leaders in Gaza to end the current state of division however, he explained that this does not seem to be the case yet [with regards to Hamas] in Damascus. “In Gaza, they were positive, honest and willing in progressing towards signing a reconciliation [document]. But it seems that this does not yet appeal to Hamas in Damascus.”

Nabil Shaath indicated that he proposed signing a reconciliation document to Hamas before the upcoming Arab Summit is convened in March. He said, “I told them we must go to the summit reconciled, if not then what will the Arab summit offer us after the previous summit endorsed Egypt continuing its efforts towards [inter-Palestinian] reconciliation.”

Shaath did not receive an unequivocal answer from Hamas in this regard and he attributed this to the Hamas leadership in Damascus: “They do not see it as an urgent matter in Damascus.”