Hamas said on Monday evening that it had discussed with Fatah the formation of a body to follow up on the affairs of the Gaza Strip and its needs in various issues, during a meeting that brought them together in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The movement's leader, Osama Hamdan, added in a video statement: "In continuation of the meetings held by the movement's leadership with various Palestinian factions, a meeting was held with the brothers in the Fatah movement at the kind invitation of Egypt."

According to Hamdan, the two parties discussed "various national issues, especially the war on Gaza and ways to work nationally to confront the plans of the occupation and those who support it, on the basis of the Palestinian national consensus to reject any arrangements that are intended to be imposed on us."

He continued: "Many ideas were discussed, including forming a body to follow up on Gaza's affairs and its needs in various issues, until the conditions are prepared to form a national consensus government. The atmosphere of the meeting was positive and frank."

He pointed out that the two parties stressed that "the management of the affairs of the Palestinian people, whether in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank or the diaspora, is a purely Palestinian affair that is carried out through national consensus."

Hamdan stressed that Hamas leadership will continue meetings and contacts with Fatah and all Palestinian factions, "to reach the most appropriate solutions and formulas that serve our people in general and Gaza and its people in particular."