Buildings and institutions in Gaza formerly used as Fatah institutions should be rebuilt and restored for use by the party, Fatah lawmaker in Gaza Faysal Abu Shahla told Ma’an on Monday. 

The legislator and member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council said several buildings in Gaza had been taken over by Hamas in 2007 when security services loyal to the rival parties engaged in bloody street battles. The strife ended in the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, and the establishment of Fatah-dominated rule in the West Bank.

Following the signing of a unity deal, which saw Fatah flags fly in Gaza for the first time since 2007, Abu Shahla said his movement would start to restore its presence in the coastal enclave.

Fatah personnel who were forced to leave Gaza will also soon return, the official added, saying he looked forward to the formation of a committee next week in Cairo to oversee the institutionalized end to political arrests in both the West Bank and Gaza. 

Abu Shahla said Fatah was looking forward to the regular resumption of activities in Gaza, and noted that the party’s Revolutionary Council meeting in Ramallah — delayed for the past two months — would be held on time in May.

(Ma’an News)