Hamas ready to reconcile with Fatah

Hamas says it is ready to discuss reconciliation with the rival government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas without preconditions.

The announcement follows a meeting between a high-level Hamas delegation and Egyptian intelligence officers last week in Cairo.

The delegation, which included Hamas chief Ismail Haniya and Yahya al-Sinwar, the Hamas prime minister of Gaza, discussed enhancing Egypt-Hamas relations, in addition to easing a 10-year-old blockade of the territory imposed by Egypt and Israel.

Hamas previously demanded that Abbas end a series of measures taken against the group before it would consider sitting down to discuss a reconciliation deal.

The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority cut funding for electricity to Gaza and reduced the salaries of tens of thousands of public servants in a bid to compel Hamas to dissolve a contentious committee that it formed to run the territory in defiance of Abbas' government.

UCJ, UNILORIN.