| Hamas estimated that the condolences offered by Fatah officials to Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar following his son's death in an IDF operation would pave the way for an accord between the two groups. Ahmad Youssef, political advisor to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah, called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Gaza for talks and expressed hope that the blood split in the Strip would lead to a reconciliation in the Palestinian arena. Former Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that the telephone conversation between Abbas and Zahar proved that the Palestinians were still united, Israel Radio reported. |