Ready to hand over Gaza to Palestinian President: Hamas

The Palestinian movement Hamas on Sunday announced to dissolve the Gaza administrative committee and allow the consensus government of President Mahmoud Abbas to govern in its place and hold general elections.

The announcement followed indirect negotiations between Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas in Cairo. The reconciliation move is likely to end a 10-year rift between West Bank and Gaza that started when Hamas forced the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority out of the coastal enclave in 2007.

The movement, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since it seized the control of the Palestinian area in 2007, said that it is ready to meet again in Cairo with Abbas' Fatah movement and other factions on the formation on a unity government.

"Hamas is ready to resume dialogue with the Fatah movement on implementing the Cairo reconciliation agreement of 2011 on the formation of a unity government with other Palestinian factions," said the leaflet.

In May 2011, Abbas and former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal signed in Cairo a reconciliation agreement, which included the formation of a unity government that prepares for general elections within six months.

Palestinian Authority also presurrized Hamas by reducing electricity in Gaza and cutting of salaries.

The negotiations were "an expression of Egyptian interest in Palestinian reconciliation and ending the division, and our interest to realize the hopes of the Palestinian people by achieving national unity," CNN quoted Hamas as saying.