Fatah movement member Azzam al-Ahmad said that there is no meeting with Hamas unless it declares that the PLO is the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas considered that the declaration of Ahmed confirms the lack of seriousness of the Fatah leadership on reconciliation.
During a television interview, Al-Ahmad said he would not hold any meeting of the secretaries-general of the factions or hold any meeting with Hamas and Islamic Jihad before ending the division. He called on Hamas to criticize itself and declare that the PLO is the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people.
He pointed out that there is no need for new initiatives to negotiate with Hamas on ending the internal division, but should implement what was agreed in October 2017.
On the other hand, the Hamas movement said in a statement that the declaration of Ahmad not to meet the Hamas and Islamic Jihad only on conditions, and confirm the readiness of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unconditionally confirms the lack of seriousness of the leadership of Fatah on the subject of reconciliation.
Hamas said the remarks were inappropriate for a Palestinian leader. The Palestinian Authority continues to be surprised by the security coordination and cooperation with the occupation, while the Palestinian Authority itself is taking further punitive measures against the people of the Gaza Strip, according to the statement.
In February, Azzam al-Ahmad said that the final statement of the meeting of the Palestinian factions in Moscow was canceled due to incompatibility, as the member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Mu'tassem Hamadeh canceled the statement after one of the parties distributed a text containing points that have been contested.