Palestinian Authority takes over Gaza crossings

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday took over Gaza Strip’s border crossings from Hamas group as part of an Egypt-sponsored reconciliation deal signed on Oct. 12, according to the Palestinian government.

“Based on the decision of [Palestinian] President Mahmoud Abbas, we are here today in the Gaza Strip to take over the border crossings, on the path of reconciliation and reunification of the Palestinian people,” Mufid al-Hasayneh, Minister of Housing and Public Works, told a press conference held at the Rafah crossing border.

He termed the handover as a “real breakthrough” toward healing inter-Palestinian rift.

“I assure you that all the necessary steps will be taken to end the [Palestinian] division as agreed in the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas,” he said.

The handover ceremony was attended by a host of Palestinian ministers, members of the PA Presidential Guard and an Egyptian delegation.

The West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip have remained politically divided since 2007, when Hamas wrested control of Gaza from rival group Fatah following several days of bloody street fighting.

Hamas’s capture of Gaza in 2007 ended an earlier -- if short-lived -- unity government established after Hamas swept the 2006 Palestinian legislative polls.

Since then, Hamas has been in control of the blockaded strip's border crossings.

Last month, Hamas and Fatah signed a landmark reconciliation agreement in Cairo aimed at ending 10 years of bitter division.

If it holds, the agreement will allow the Fatah-led Ramallah government to assume political and administrative responsibility for the Gaza Strip.