A senior Fatah official arrived on Thursday in the Gaza Strip, on the first visit of its kind since Hamas took control of the enclave more than two years ago.
"We hope that the visit will contribute to inter-Palestinian reconciliation," Nabil Shaath told journalists upon his arrival.
Shaath, a member of the Fatah Central Council and a former Palestinian National Authority foreign minister, is expected to focus on Egypt's reconciliation initiative during the visit. Fatah has signed the plan, but Hamas rejected it only days before it was supposed to be signed in Cairo.
Hamas said on Wednesday it was not pinning high hopes on the visit.
"Shaath is being treated like any ordinary Palestinian who wants to visit the Gaza Strip," JThe erusalem Post quoted a Hamas legislator and spokesman, Salah Bardaweel, as saying. "No one can stop any honorable Palestinian from visiting his or her homeland."
Hamas is in control of the Gaza Strip after kicking Abbas's Fatah party out of the enclave in the summer of 2007 following a series of armed clashes. Fatah now governs the West Bank.
GAZA, February 4 (RIA Novosti)
