- RAMALLAH: Hundreds of Hamas members and supporters for the first time in four years took to the streets in West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday to celebrate the signing of a reconciliation deal between rivals Hamas and Fatah.
The participants marched from Jamal Abdulnasser Mosque in Al-Beireh to the Al-Manara Square in Ramallah after holding Friday prayers.
The participants were waving the colored flags of Palestine, green flags of Hamas, yellow flags of Fatah and pictures of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a festive atmosphere.
They chanted slogans calling for the implementation of the reconciliation agreement and the release of political prisoners the Palestinian Authority holds in West Bank and the deposed Hamas government holds in Gaza Strip.
They also greeted Abbas and head of Hamas politburo Khaled Meshaal for signing the reconciliations agreement.
Ahmed Musleh, a West Bank-based Hamas legislator, said during the rally that his movement held the rally “not to test the Palestinian security services in West Bank but to stress that the freedoms must prevail in Palestinian territories.”
Musleh added that the rally “represents that happiness for the signing of the deal and a message to the leaders that they must implement the deal immediately.”
He expressed optimism that the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas will succeed this time “if it implemented on the ground without any delay.”
He added that the Hamas members and supports are since “it is the first time in four years that they can hold a Hamas flag alongside a Palestinian flag in West Bank.”
On Wednesday, Abbas and Meshaal signed in Cairo an Egypt-drafted reconciliation agreement.
The two movements will start discussions to appoint a prime minister and members of the government, and they will later discuss the formation of a higher committee to lead Palestine Liberation Organization until elections for the organization's National Council is held.
The internal Palestinian division began when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and routed Abbas security forces.
Fathi Qar’awi, another Hamas legislator, said that “this is one of the most important days because we ended the internal division.”
Qar’awi said that the Palestinian people “want to see the new Palestinian government that will prepare for the general elections.”
Similar rallies were held in the cities of Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Al-Mi’sarah and Bil’in villages where anti-separation wall rallies are held every Friday.