Agencies, Gaza City :
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that the Ramallah-based national unity government would resign within the next 24 hours over its inability to operate in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the council’s secretary-general told AFP news agency that the government would step down, a year after the formation of the government comprising Fatah and Hamas members.
Hamas officials and spokespersons condemned the reported disbanding of the consensus government.
The Palestinian group called the move a unilateral decision, adding that they would discuss with other factions the consequences of the decision before declaring its position.
Abbas was expected to meet Rami Hamdallah, prime minister, in Ramallah at 10:00 GMT to decide on the future of the current national consensus government.
A senior Palestinian official told Al Jazeera that at the conclusion of the meeting, a decision would be taken on whether to go ahead with proposed cabinet reshuffles or to form a new government.
In a separate development, Hamas officials have confirmed the exchange of indirect verbal messages between Hamas and Israel through European Union, Turkish and Qatari mediators.
The messages concern a possible long-term, extendable ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, under which Israel would allow the construction of a floating sea port linking the Gaza Strip with the rest of the world.
Against this background, Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas deputy leader, and other Hamas officials arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to discuss the truce plan, reports say.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that the Ramallah-based national unity government would resign within the next 24 hours over its inability to operate in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the council’s secretary-general told AFP news agency that the government would step down, a year after the formation of the government comprising Fatah and Hamas members.
Hamas officials and spokespersons condemned the reported disbanding of the consensus government.
The Palestinian group called the move a unilateral decision, adding that they would discuss with other factions the consequences of the decision before declaring its position.
Abbas was expected to meet Rami Hamdallah, prime minister, in Ramallah at 10:00 GMT to decide on the future of the current national consensus government.
A senior Palestinian official told Al Jazeera that at the conclusion of the meeting, a decision would be taken on whether to go ahead with proposed cabinet reshuffles or to form a new government.
In a separate development, Hamas officials have confirmed the exchange of indirect verbal messages between Hamas and Israel through European Union, Turkish and Qatari mediators.
The messages concern a possible long-term, extendable ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, under which Israel would allow the construction of a floating sea port linking the Gaza Strip with the rest of the world.
Against this background, Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas deputy leader, and other Hamas officials arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to discuss the truce plan, reports say.
