In June, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas decided to send a high ranking delegation from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Fatah's Central Committee and independent figures to finalize the unity deal with Hamas. The committee was headed by Palestinian billionaire Munib Al-Masri, who heads the Palestinian National Coalition of independent figures Al-Mustaqbal.

The committee was scheduled to visit the Gaza Strip for talks with Hamas leaders to convince them to sign the Egypt-brokered reconciliation proposal. However, the visit was canceled after Hamas announced that it would not receive the delegation.

Hani Al-Masri, a committee member, said that Hamas' reservations over an Egyptian plan to solve the crisis, as well as Fatah's opposition to changes in the initiative, were the main reason behind the failure of the mediation efforts.

He stressed that despite the decision to dissolve the committee, efforts would continue on several levels to end the crisis. He also called on Palestinians to step up pressure on the rival parties to force them to patch up their differences.

In October, Egypt mediated a dialogue between the two sides to end their feuds and the status of division between the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Fatah accepted the reconciliation proposal, but Hamas said it has reservations on some articles in the pact, mainly the ones related to security, the reform of the PLO and elections, and it would not sign on it until these reservations are considered.

However, Egypt rejected Hamas request and insisted that Hamas should sign on the pact first and then its reservations would be considered during the implementation of the agreement.