The Palestinian cabinet met in Gaza, on Tuesday, for the first time since 2014 in a move to put an end to a decade-long split between the PA and Hamas movement, which runs Gaza.
In an opening speech, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah renewed his pledge to end the rift.
“We are here to turn the page on division, restore the national project to its correct direction and establish the (Palestinian) state,” he said.
Tuesday’s cabinet session took place at the official Gaza residence of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the cabinet office, hung with portraits of Abbas and historic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
No Hamas officials were involved.
Hamas security officials were on the roof of the building, while Palestinian Authority agents were deployed inside, an AFP correspondent reported.
“Today we are faced with a historic revival in which we are grappling with our wounds and elevating our unity,” Hamdallah said, reaffirming that there would be no Palestinian state without Gaza.
UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Monday that he was “carefully optimistic” about the reconciliation talks.
“If the region stays engaged, if Egypt’s role continues and if the political parties themselves continue to show the willingness they are currently showing to work with us on this process, then it can succeed,” he told AFP.