Member of Hamas Political Bureau Husam Badran denied that his movement had introduced any proposal for Palestinian reconciliation long since.

Badran’s comments came following a statement by member of Fatah Central Committee Azzam al-Ahmad, in which he claimed that the articles of a national initiative presented by eight Palestinian factions were the same as those his movement had received from Hamas via Egypt. 

Badran stressed that Hamas informed all concerned sides that it backs inclusive elections and a national partnership, noting that his movement “doesn’t know what Abu Mazen [PA President Mahmoud Abbas] means by general election.”

During his speech at the UN General Assembly about two weeks ago, Abbas announced that he would call for general elections on his arrival in Ramallah.

Badran reaffirmed that his movement accepted the factional vision to restore national unity after finding that the initiative “reflected the pulse of the Palestinian public.”

The Hamas official said he was shock to know that Fatah had rejected the national initiative, even though “it’s based on previous agreements” signed upon by Palestinian factions.