Commenting on the statement issued by the five factions in Damascus on Saturday, head of Hamas’ National Relations Office Husam Badran stated: “HAMAS hails the five factions’ call to continue dialogue and renew the Palestinian secretaries-general’s meeting and keenness on achieving Palestinian unity in the face of the challenges threatening the homeland and national constants.”

“HAMAS agrees with all articles of the statement and reiterates its constant stance on national unity and willingness to continue the comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue in order to restore unity and restructure Palestinian national institutions, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), on the basis of national partnership and according to the national constants agreed upon in the secretaries-general’s meeting,” Bedran added.

Secretaries-general of the Palestinian factions held a meeting in Beirut and Ramallah on September 3, and agreed to reach a national agreement and to hold presidential, parliamentary, and National Council elections.

On Sept. 23-24, senior delegations from Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas met in Istanbul for a two-day discussion hosted by Turkey’s foreign ministry.

After the meeting, a Hamas spokesperson announced that the two parties had agreed to begin planning elections within six months. (ILKHA)