Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has tendered his resignation and that of his unity government – in what is perceived as yet another blow to faltering reconciliation attempts by the Palestinian Authority and the Islamist Hamas. While the Palestinian government will continue to carry out its duties until a new government is formed, Hamdallah said that all control will be placed under the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to Rami Hamdallah, “It is a hard time for the Palestinian cause, we should be united all over the country, for sure the government has put itself under the control of the President.” While the office of President Mahmoud Abbas did not immediately respond to TV7’s request for comment; a Gazan source told TV7 that the move is aimed at marginalizing and excluding Hamas from Palestinian politics.
