The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has called for the dispatch of 3,000 policemen from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, a senior PLO leader has told Anadolu Agency.
“The move is aimed at establishing control over Gaza’s [Hamas-run] police stations,” Wasil Abu Yousef, a senior member of the PLO’s authoritative Executive Committee, said Monday.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Palestinians flee as Israeli army attacks north Gaza with tanks and drones
- list 2 of 4Israel awaits return of final captive from Gaza amid fragile peace deal
- list 3 of 4Israel kills seven people in Gaza, says Rafah crossing to partially reopen
- list 4 of 4Israel preparing to receive remains found in northern Gaza
Cairo agreement
Late last year, the Hamas movement in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank (which leads the PLO) signed a landmark reconciliation deal in Cairo aimed at ending a decade of bitter political division.
The agreement called for several confidence-building measures, including the dispatch of 3,000 policemen from the Ramallah-based Palestinian government to Gaza.
The measures, however, have yet to be implemented, due, primarily, to deep-seated differences between the rival factions over administrative and security-related issues.
Special panel
Following a meeting in Ramallah last month, the PLO Executive Committee drew up a special panel tasked with – among other things – following up on the stalled reconciliation process.
The panel’s recommendations are now expected to be presented at a meeting of the Executive Committee slated for next week.
It remains unclear, however, whether the Executive Committee – led by Palestinian President and Fatah Chairman Mahmoud Abbas – will implement the panel’s recommendations.
Hamas, for its part, which remains in de facto control of the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, has yet to officially comment on the recommendations.