Palestinian Unity Government to Resign Over Gaza Row

The Palestinian unity government is to be dissolved, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday.

Abbas told his Fatah faction that the government must step down because the Islamic terror group Hamas would not allow it to operate in Gaza. Hamas violently seized control of Gaza in an armed conflict with Fatah in 2007. Hamas has since controlled the Gaza Strip, and Fatah governs the West Bank.

The Palestinian cabinet was formed last June to unify Fatah and Hamas. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah from the Fatah party is expected to continue as prime minister and form a new government. Israel refused to deal with the unity government because Hamas repeatedly promises to destroy Israel.