The visit to Hamas-controlled Gaza on Wednesday by senior Fatah official Dr. Nabil Shaath has significant ramifications according to the experts. The move signals higher-level efforts towards reaching agreement between the rival factions of the PA (Palestinian Authority). Shaath became the highest level Fatah official to visit Gaza since the Fatah government was overthrown by the current Hamas regime in 2007.

Shaath was welcomed since he was coming to get a first-hand look at the “suffering of the Palestinians” a year after Operation Cast Lead. Prior to setting out on his humanistic mission, he announced a willingness to meet with all “faction”, i.e. terror organizations, including Hamas.

“I am here to cry out to the world that you cannot leave people under siege”, thereby opening a diplomatic door with Hamas, joining together against the common enemy, in this case Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)