It has become clear that the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli war this summer has largely resulted from the failure of the reconstruction process, the ongoing closure of the crossings and the failure to settle the issue of the payment of employee salaries. This prompted Hamas’ parliamentary bloc to announce on Nov. 16 the holding of a Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) session Nov. 19-20 to discuss the future of the consensus government. However, on Nov. 18, the deputy head of the PLC, Ahmed Bahar, announced in a news release that the session would be postponed to an unknown date, in response to good offices and to the Jerusalem events.

A senior Hamas leader told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “The parliamentary Hamas bloc was serious about holding the session and potentially declaring the illegitimacy of the government, and thus take us into another predicament. This led Palestinian and Arab parties to contact us in a bid to heal the rift.”

“We understand the motives leading the members of parliament not to disrupt the government, and it is their right to put pressure on the executive branch to activate it. But our disagreement with Fatah is political par excellence, even if it took a legal form. I am aware of the intractable crisis resulting from the government’s reluctance, but one cannot solve a crisis by creating another, bigger one. Therefore, the session was postponed given that we have not reached the point of no return with Fatah and the president,” the Hamas leader added.

Mohammed al-Ghoul, head of the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform bloc, told Al-Monitor, “The government failed to carry out its duties and functions, and rather worked to entrench the divide between Gaza and the West Bank. It divided the employees, and was sectarian in addressing the current situation. It no longer has a role on the ground. Moreover, it is illegal as it has yet to get the vote of confidence of the parliament, knowing that it was formed five months ago.”