Preliminary meetings between Hamas and Fatah officials have led to mutual understandings between the sides

A Palestinian source said that preliminary meetings between Hamas and Fatah officials have led to mutual understandings between the sides, Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam reported on Saturday.

According to the source, the understandings will be officially published after a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal, scheduled to take place in Cairo next week.

The two are slated to discuss the implementation of the inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement, as well as the Parliamentary and presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Youssef, the former political adviser of Hamas prime minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, noted that the two sides have agreed that the next Palestinian government will be based in Gaza, adding that the next prime minister may also be a resident of the Strip.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad commented on the tension between the factions, writing in his Facebook page that he will not force himself upon the Palestinian people.

Fayyad has called on the Palestinian factions to reach an agreement over the appointment of a new prime minister. Hamas fiercely objects to having Fayyad serve in the transition government.