Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 02-11-2017
As Palestinians around the world mark 100 years since the Balfour declaration turning the Zionist aim of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine, the United Nations (UN) envoy for the Middle East peace process welcomed the full return of Gaza crossings to the control of the Palestinian Authority.
Reports indicate the 12 October agreement between Fatah and Hamas factions allows the Palestinian government to resume its responsibilities in Gaza. Under the agreement, the Palestinian Authority should take control of the crossings of the Gaza Strip by 1 November.
A statement released by Egypt, which facilitated the accord, says the Palestinian government should assume its full responsibilities to manage the enclave by 1 December.
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov says this is a landmark development in the implementation of the intra-Palestinian agreement, signed in Cairo on 12 October.
“The positive momentum should be maintained and the Palestinian government must be fully empowered to function in Gaza.”
Mladenov says the return of the crossings should facilitate the lifting of the closures, while addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns, and unlock increased international support for Gaza’s reconstruction, growth, stability and prosperity.
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