Palestinian PM to visit Gaza Strip on Wednesday

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdala plans to visit the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in his second visit to the coastal enclave since he took office, official sources said on Tuesday.

According to Ehab Bessaiso, the spokesman of the Palestinian consensus government, the aim of the visit is to explore the possibilities of reconstructing demolished houses and infrastructure, and to find new ways to promote national reconciliation, Efe news agency reported.

Hamdala plans to stay in Gaza for several days over which he will meet with leaders of Hamas and other stakeholders to find a solution that allows for the opening of several border crossings.

Last October, the prime minister visited Gaza in what was the first visit by a senior official of the Palestinian National Authority to the Palestinian territory in seven years, since the Islamist movement Hamas took control of Gaza.

On that occasion, he met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, before going on to Egypt to participate in a donor conference for the reconstruction of Gaza, which between July and August 2014 suffered one of the most devastating Israeli offensives in years.