GAZA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian consensus government Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and a delegation of 120 members arrived in Gaza on Monday to take over administration of the strip.
It is the first visit of Hamdallah and his government members and ministers to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, since December 2014, to hand over rule of Gaza according to an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement reached in Cairo last month.
The consensus government was formed in June 2014, in accordance with an agreement reached in April 2014.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered to road sides near Erez crossing point on the borders, waving Palestinian flags, to receive the large convoy of Hamdallah and his team.
Ibrahim Salem, a 28-year old unemployed man from Gaza, waited for the delegation at Erez crossing and said he came here to "receive Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and the government. I want to tell them that ten years of internal division are enough, we suffered a lot in our life and it is time to end this division, unite and live a life with dignity."
Abdul Rahman Abu Namoos, 32, a former security officer, said it is a historic day for the Palestinians.
"I feel so happy today because it will be a first step towards unity and towards ending our suffering. I hope they will succeed in achieving a full unity, end the suffering in Gaza, lift the blockade, open the crossings and find jobs for tens of thousands of unemployed people here," he said.
The Hamas-run security forces ensured the area and the road that goes from the borders down to Gaza city, where the delegation will stay for three days to takeover ministries that had been run by Hamas for more than ten years.
A senior Egyptian security delegation, high-ranking figures and leaders of various factions and political powers, including Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah Party received Hamdallah and his team at the crossing.
Hamdallah and his cabinet ministers are scheduled to hold meetings on Monday with leaders of factions, including Hamas and Fatah, and will also head to their offices in Gaza to officially hand over the ministries.
On Tuesday, Hamdallah is to chair his weekly cabinet meeting at the consensus government's headquarters in Gaza city, the former house of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamdallah and most of his ministries will leave the Gaza Strip back to the West Bank on Wednesday.
