Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh today urged President Mahmoud Abbas to resume talks on forming a national unity coalition after Abbas threatened to dissolve the Hamas-led government.
Haniyeh is embroiled in an increasingly bitter power struggle with Abbas, fuelled by their failure to agree a unity coalition that Palestinians hope will lift Western sanctions.
Clashes earlier this week between Hamas gunmen and forces loyal to Abbas's Fatah movement triggered fears of civil war.
"Mr. President come to Gaza. Come to Gaza to resume dialogue ... and announce a unity government," Haniyeh said in an impassioned speech to tens of thousands of Hamas supporters inside the Gaza's Strip's largest stadium.
But Haniyeh vowed no government in which the militant Hamas movement served would recognise Israel, a stance that is a non-starter for Abbas and Western nations.
At one stage Haniyeh appeared to faint as aides rushed to help him into a chair. Haniyeh, who like many Muslims is fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, later resumed his speech.
"I urge the leadership of Fatah and Hamas to hold an urgent meeting, tonight, in my presence, to put an end to the internal strife. (But) we will not recognise Israel," Haniyeh said.
Showing increasing impatience, Abbas on Wednesday said he might sack the government over its refusal to agree a platform for a coalition that would take a softer position toward Israel. Abbas also said unity talks were dead.
Western nations imposed sanctions after Hamas took power in March over the group's refusal to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept interim peace deals with the Jewish state.
Nabil Amr, Abbas's media advisor, said the president would visit Gaza at some stage but gave no timeframe.
"He will try to convince (Hamas to accept) his programme otherwise he will be forced to take one of his constitutional choices, such as calling for early elections," Amr said from the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Abbas has his main office.
Fatah argues that Abbas has the right to call early parliamentary elections under law, while Hamas disputes this.