ISTANBUL, Thursday, September 24, 2020 (WAFA) – Fatah and Hamas delegations meeting in Istanbul, announced today that they have agreed on a common vision for action that would end the intra-Palestinian rift.

Following their direct talks aimed at ending the 14-year-long intra-Palestinian division, the delegations announced in a statement that they have “reached an agreed-upon vision” to be submitted to the next meeting of the heads of the Palestinian factions that will be chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas and will be held no later than October 1.

The delegations, who arrived in Istanbul on Monday night for direct unity talks, reiterated their commitment to “a joint action to defend the Palestinian people’s rights and interests and confront all conspiracies on the path of full independence and the creation of the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

They added that the official announcement of the “national consensus” they have reached would be made during the upcoming meeting for the heads of factions.

Fatah delegation is represented by Fatah Secretary-General Jibril Rjoub while Hamas delegation included its deputy head Saleh Arouri.

Both delegations have discussed the establishment of a joint committee to address technical disagreements and decide on a date for the next Palestinian general elections.

Fatah and Hamas have been at odds since Hamas took over power in Gaza in 2007, and have ever since, without success, conducted several rounds of talks on national reconciliation.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain’s decision to normalize their relations with Israel and Israeli plans to annex occupied Palestinian land have prompted a high-level meeting for heads of all Palestinian factions in an attempt to bring the division to an end.

K.F./M.K.