Palestinian president preparing for Gaza visit

Jerusalem: Palestinian authorities Tuesday said that security preparations are under way for President Mahmoud Abbas who is set to visit the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2006.

“There is a lot of talk about the president going, but the goal of the visit is yet to be worked out,” The Jerusalem Post quoted a Palestinian official as saying.

Abbas is expected to make a major announcement from the Gaza Strip and "it could be about new Palestinian elections, a unity government between Fatah and Hamas or lifting of the siege on Gaza", the official said.

According to the official, Abbas's visit will mark the victory of his Fatah movement over Hamas which has controlled Gaza since 2007.

The reports of the visit came after Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, convened the first meeting of a joint government with Hamas in Gaza last week.

That visit would also be the key to reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the official added.