Palestinian Authority officials affiliated with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and his Fatah faction are hoping to regain control of a limited area of southern Gaza, now under the control of Hamas.

Fatah faction leaders have been releasing statements towards launching a dialogue with Gaza-based Hamas leaders. They hope to obtain Hamas approval for a plan to place 1,000 international troops along with Fatah troops near the Rafiah Crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt.

They hope this will also lead to the reopening of the Rafiah, Kerem Shalom and Sufah Crossings by Israel, as well as the Gaza airport.

The PA leaders are aware that such a move would require Egyptian and Israeli approval, as well as a commitment by Hamas that gunfire at border crossings would be halted. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)