Gaza’s Hamas leader reshuffled the Cabinet in the Gaza Strip on Thursday and appointed a new foreign minister

Gaza's Hamas leader reshuffled the Cabinet in the Gaza Strip on Thursday and appointed a new foreign minister.

Hamas says that leader Ismail Haniyeh's decision to reorganize his government has no correlations with the unrest rocking the Arab region. However, this move may be perceived as part of a greater Hamas effort to convey a more open image to the outside world.

Haniyeh appointed Mohammed Awad as Hamas's foreign minister. This is the first time since the group's takeover of the Strip that Hamas has filled this role. Awad will also keep his job as planning minister.

Thursday's reshuffle added five ministers to the Hamas government, including one woman. Most ministers kept their current portfolios.

The unprecedented move comes shortly after Hamas representatives said they are preparing a comprehensive initiative to end the internal division between Hamas and Fatah on Saturday.

"We are preparing a comprehensive national initiative that aims at rearranging the Palestinian internal situation to regain the national unity," said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza. Zurhi said the initiative "doesn't have any obstacles that would give anyone the excuse to reject it," adding that once finalized the initiative would be presented to Palestinian factions in the near future.