GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Ending the political split between Fatah and Hamas will require extensive efforts by both sides, a senior Hamas official said Monday.

"What happened in Cairo in recent meetings was positive, and we hope to find a way to change on the ground," Hamas politburo member Osama Hamdan told Ma'an.

Hamdan is visiting Gaza from Lebanon, and has participated in several protests outside Red Cross offices in support of Palestinian prisoners.

Factional infighting split Palestine into separate governments in 2007. National elections and parliamentary approval of legislation have been on hold ever since.