Palestine: Fatah and Hamas agree to pull gunmen out from Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-05-2007 16:11

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya will withdraw all gunmen of their Fatah and Hamas factions from Gaza's streets. Analysts are reacting cautiously to the latest development they say that what's more important is how the agreement will be implemented.

The agreement was the product of late night talks between the two Palestinian leaders in Gaza city. According to the agreement, a number of key steps are to be taken to restore law and order in Gaza.

Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said "First, rejecting the use of violence as a way to settle internal differences. Second, withdrawing all gunmen from the streets and deploying police forces to keep law and order. Fourth, forming a judicial committee to investigate the unfortunate recent incidents. Fifth, forming and activating the higher national security council, headed by the president and my membership."

The agreement came with a heavy price. Six Palestinians were killed on Thursday in violent fighting between rival armed groups in Gaza.

Violence has surged in Gaza since Abbas challenged Hamas by calling on December 16th for early parliamentary and presidential elections. Prior to that, talks between Hamas and Fatah on forming a unity government failed. Ahead of the talks with Abbas, Haneya had called on his countrymen to keep united. "Let's stop these conflicts, let's stop this bloodshed, let's love each other and be in harmony. In order to follow up and treat our issues in the language of discussion, away from weapons. This is not our culture, and it' is not our behavior."

The new agreement is nothing new to ordinary Palestinians. Similar pacts in the past have been quickly annulled by violence. And fears of renewed violence still exist in Gaza.

Editor:Du Xiaodan