Hamas has announced that it is dismantling the Gaza administration it created half a year ago. On Sept. 16, the movement also said that it is willing to hold general elections in the Gaza Strip. Representatives of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rushed to Cairo, where they met with Hamas' Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar and with his deputy Khalil al-Hayya. Sinwar was the man who decided to create the shadow government that nearly brought disaster to both Hamas and the people of Gaza. The two Hamas men discussed with Abbas’ representatives their desire to bring an end to the crisis between Hamas and Fatah as quickly as possible.

Palestinian reconciliation would surely involve former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, even though he is Abbas’ bitter rival.

Even before this announcement, Hamas had taken another step toward reconciliation with Fatah. On Sept. 14, some 100 Fatah families who lost loved ones or suffered severe injuries or material destruction in the 2014 war received compensation in two ceremonies, one in Gaza City and the other in Khan Yunis. Dahlan raised the money in the Gulf states, and the Hamas movement distributed it to the families. The families received $50,000 each, and another 700 families are waiting to receive compensation as well. "Their time will come, too," a source close to Dahlan in Gaza told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He went on to say that Hamas is hopeful that all of the families will receive compensation by the end of the year.

To pay them all, Dahlan will have to raise some $35 million more. "Quite a few families lost their homes in the Gaza war and [some] victims are crippled, so they cannot work for their livelihood. This sum will be enough for them to cover their debts." He went on to explain that $50,000 is enough to buy a modest apartment in Gaza.