DOHA, Qatar – Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal have reached a peace deal. The announcement was made on Facebook by a senior Hamas politicalshortly before a planned news conference in Qatar.
Rishiq says a “major breakthrough” was reached, without specifying what it was. Talks have focused on forming a future unity government and releasing political prisoners in the West Bank, which is controlled by Abbas.
Hamas officials had previously suggested that Abbas would become prime minister in an interim Palestinian government that would prepare for general elections in Hamas-controlled Gaza and the West Bank.