RAMALLAH, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Sunday issued a call for unity to the Hamas movement in Gaza Strip, in face of an escalating row with Israel over the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.
PNA spokesman Tariq Rishmawi said in a press statement that Hamas, which has been ruling Gaza since 2007, should respond to the initiative of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for reconciliation, by transferring control of governmental institutions in Gaza to the government.
"Hamas must bear in mind the interests of the Palestinians to be a priority before looking for its factional interest," said Rishmawi, adding "what happens in Jerusalem and to our holy places, should make us all united."
Palestinian, Arab and international mediation efforts have so far failed in the past decade to end the feud between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah Party which rules the West Bank.
On Friday, Abbas called on Hamas to respond to his call for unity by dismantling the Gaza Administrative Committee, letting the PNA government to run the governmental establishments, then agreeing on a specific date for holding the general elections.
The Hamas-led committee rules the daily services and affairs of more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Hamas said in a press release that it extends its hands to Fatah and Abbas to be united and end the internal split in accordance to previous agreements and understanding.
"Hamas calls for agreeing on an urgent national strategy to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque and confront the occupation (by Israel) and defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people until ending the occupation and establishing our state," it said.
Tensions between Israel and Palestinians have been rising since July 14 when Israel installed checkpoints and metal detectors at the entrances of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after three Israeli Arab gunmen shot dead two Israeli policemen near the site. The three were later killed by the Israeli police.
Since then, clashes have been erupting between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters at the gates of the mosque compound and elsewhere in West Bank.
In clashes during a massive protest on Friday, Israeli security forces killed three Palestinians and injured hundreds of others.
