The legal term of the consensus government, which was set at six months in light of the Palestinian reconciliation, ended on Dec. 2. However, Hamas leader Salah Bardawil asserted on Dec. 3 that he was ready to extend the government’s work for an additional six months.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ahmad Bahr, the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, called on Fatah and Hamas to “re-establish the government, as the one already in place has not carried out any of the tasks delegated to it, especially in the Gaza Strip.”

Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, asserted on Nov. 30 that any alternatives for the government should be agreed upon with the factions and that the end of its set term does not mean that the government is gone. It will stand its ground until other alternatives are discussed. The term was never the issue, but rather the government’s slackening in doing its job.

Faisal Abu Shahla, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, told Al-Monitor, “The reconciliation does not stipulate a specific date that ends the government’s work, but rather sets forth the formation of a consensus government to prepare for the legislative and presidential elections and the national council elections, without mentioning its end date. Hamas’ talk about a specific timeframe is not accurate.”