Egypt has welcomed new steps taken by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement to build Palestinian unity, the result of Cairo’s efforts to end the long-running feud. Hamas said on Sunday that it had dissolved its administrative committee running Gaza, making way for the arrival of officials from the unity government, who would take control of the area. Hamas said it had also agreed to hold general elections in order to end the decade-long split.The Hamas statement was issued from Gaza on Sunday following talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo last week.Fatah, meanwhile, said on Sunday that it welcomed the pledge by its rival Hamas to accept key conditions for reconciliation.
