The deposed Hamas cabinet held its first meeting in Gaza City since the group took control of Gaza and was sacked from the coalition with the Fatah party. Hamas made the gesture days after defeating Fatah forces and seizing control of Gaza.
The rift has left the Palestinians with two rival governments – a Western-backed cabinet loyal to Fatah in the West Bank and the Hamas rulers of Gaza. Both the Hamas government and the emergency government formed by Abbas claim to represent all Palestinians. However, the international community has embraced the West Bank government, while the Islamic militant Hamas has been largely shunned. Middle East analyst Fawaz Gerges says the world community should find the ways to mediate the conflict between rival Palestinian factions.