Hamas hands over Gaza crossings to PA

The Islamist group Hamas began ceding control of the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to US-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday under an agreement brokered by Cairo to end a decade of internal schism.

The move marked the most concrete implementation of the Oct 11 reconciliation deal that Palestinians hope will ease economic restrictions on Gaza and enable more fruitful negotiations on their goal of setting up an independent state.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah said in a statement that taking charge of the crossings would help Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA) fulfill its duty "to improve the living conditions of our people".

Israel and the United States have reservations about the intra-Palestinian pact, however, given refusals by Hamas - which has fought three wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007 from forces loyal to Abbas - to relinquish its rockets and other arms.

Witnesses said PA employees moved into Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings on the Israeli border and Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, as Hamas counterparts packed up equipment and departed on trucks.

"We have handed over the crossings with honesty and responsibility, without bargaining and unconditionally," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said.

Citing security concerns, Israel maintains tight restrictions on the movement of people and goods at its crossings with the Gaza Strip.

COGAT, the Israeli military-run authority that supervises Erez and Kerem Shalom, said a meeting would be held with a PA representative to define joint working protocols at or near the crossings.