The radical Hamas movement has sent a letter to the Palestine Liberation Organization notifying it of its willingness to hand over the Gaza Strip under control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and a government committee, Sky News Arabia TV channel reported citing sources.
The sources said that at the same time Hamas imposed a stipulation that Gaza officials should be provided with jobs in the new administration, and in case of dismissal, continue to receive salaries.
The organization made the decision under "strong pressure" from Egypt after the negotiations of its delegation in Cairo.
The Egyptian TV channel Al-Kahira al-Ikhbariya reported on February 15 citing a source Hamas notified the mediators that it intends to comply with the ceasefire agreement with Israel and is not going to participate in the administration of the Gaza Strip in the future.
Egypt, according to the source, is now in intensive consultations on the creation of an interim committee responsible for assistance to the residents of the enclave and its restoration.
Negotiations on the post-war governance of Gaza have been conducted over the past year by the Palestinian Fatah and Hamas movements with the mediation of Egypt.
The last round was held in Cairo last November. It was decided to create a so-called public support committee, which would take over power in the sector until the formation of the all-Palestinian Government of National Accord.
This interim body, according to Egyptian sources, was established by a decree of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and includes independent representatives who must be Gaza natives but not belong to any political party.
In 2005, as part of a unilateral disengagement plan, Israel completely withdrew its troops from the strip and evacuated Jewish settlements.
Control over Gaza was transferred to the Abbas-led PNA, which also ruled the West Bank of the Jordan River.
However, the first parliamentary elections were won by representatives of Hamas, who clashed with the more moderate Fatah movement, which led to a split between the factions.
The radicals established full control over the sector, while their opponents have retained power in the West Bank. Recently, Abbas and his supporters have repeatedly said that their desire to restore the PA's jurisdiction over Gaza, but Hamas has not yet officially agreed to this.
