Hamas seeks reconciliation with Fatah

On Monday Hamas announced a series of measures to make the way for a reconciliation with Fatah.Ismail Haniyeh, Prime Minister of Gaza said that, “We are doing this out of an understanding of the sensitive situation the Palestinian issue is in. These decisions are for the sake of implementing reconciliation and unification.”The measures are seen as a direct result of the deep crisis facing Hamas in the aftermath of the removal of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi.The Hamas measures include allowing Fatah members who fled the Gaza Strip during the Hamas takeover of the area in 2007 to return home and that his government would also release Fatah members who were arrested for politically motivated security offenses.The Hamas leader said that his government was prepared to do all that was needed to end the split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He urged both sides to “absorb” the “positive messages” coming from Hamas.