Rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas ended talks in Egypt on Sunday aimed at implementing a reconciliation deal struck in May, with an agreement to release political prisoners and passports for Gaza residents, a spokesman said.
The discussions were "positive," and both parties agreed to meet again in early September in Cairo, according to Egypt's MENA news agency.
The meeting ended with both sides also agreeing to work for the release of political prisoners of both movements in Gaza and the West Bank, and solve the issue of passports for Gaza residents by the end of Ramadan, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri said in Gaza.
The agreement "is important because it is a reassuring message to the Palestinian people, and it reflects the seriousness of both parties in implementing it," he added. A committee would also be formed to "ensure the opening of closed institutions in both the West Bank and Gaza," Zahri said.
The two sides held consultations late on Saturday in the presence of Egyptian intelligence officials, MENA said, adding that Fatah's delegation was led by Azzam al-Ahmed and Hamas by Musa Abu Marzuq.
Before the talks, Fatah official Sakhr Bssisso said they would focus on "mechanisms of implementing the reconciliation deal" in all its aspects, including forming a new government, one of the main hurdles delaying the deal.
Zahri told AFP on Saturday that his group was "serious in wanting to implement the agreement as soon as possible."
But he added that there were some hurdles, namely Fatah's insistence on keeping Salam Fayyad as prime minister. Meanwhile, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas reiterated his call for a government of independents, following talks in Amman with Jordan's King Abdullah II.