Hamas announced on Sunday that it has dissolved its administration of the Gaza strip, and would be prepared to commence talks with Fatah on holding general elections and forming a unity government.
Dissolving the Hamas run Gaza administrative body was a key condition sent by President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Hamas invites the consensus government to come to Gaza to practice its mission and carry out its duties in the Gaza Strip immediately, and it accepts holding the general elections," the statement said.
Relations between Hamas and Fatah have remain strained despite a 2014 agreement to form a national reconciliation government.
Welcoming Hamas' announcement, a senior Fatah official, Mahmoud Aloul told Reuters, Mahmoud Aloul, “If this is Hamas statement, then this is a positive sign."
“We in Fatah movement are ready to implement reconciliation.”