UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister talks to Hamas chie

UPDATES WITH QUOTES FROM FOREIGN MINISTER

By Merve Aydogan and Tugrul Cam

ANKARA (AA) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke over the phone with senior Palestinian officials late Friday following the recent political reconciliation effort in Cairo.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Cavusoglu spoke with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

The minister told Anadolu Agency: "We share great happiness and feel rightful pride in seeing our Palestinian brothers/sisters embracing each other."

He reaffirmed Turkey's support, especially as the current chair of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"I've underlined the importance of continuing the process as it is, without wasting any time and [urge them to] reach a conclusion."

Cavusoglu also said reconciliation in Palestine was necessary for "defending the rights of the Palestinians at international platforms".

On Thursday, Hamas and Fatah signed a landmark reconciliation agreement in Egyptian capital Cairo aimed at ending 10 years of deep inter-Palestinian political division.

Under the deal, the Ramallah-based Palestinian unity government will assume political and administrative responsibility for the Gaza Strip no later than Dec. 1.

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip have remained politically and administratively divided since 2007, when Hamas wrested control of the strip from 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 2006 Palestinian legislative polls.