Bethlehem – Ma'an – A top Fatah official hinted on Monday that Egypt could resume efforts to broker a deal with the rival Hamas movement that were frozen with President Mahmoud Abbas’ decree for new elections.

Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of the Fatah Central Committee who was personally involved in prior negotiations with Hamas, said that Egypt will announce the nature of its plans in about two weeks.

The official added in an interview with Voice of Palestine radio that there are contacts and negotiations underway related to the matter.

Al-Ahmad also called on the “wise men of Hamas” to work in support of the overall Palestinian national interest.

On Friday Abbas declared that elections will take place on 24 January, a step Hamas says should only come after a unity deal is reached.

On Sunday a top Hamas official declared that the reconciliation talks with Fatah were “completely frozen.”

Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006. In June 2007 the group took full control of Gaza, shutting down pro-Fatah security forces, compelling Abbas to dissolve a power-sharing government.