Palestinian factions affiliated with the PLO will not nominate candidates for the government of technocrats proposed in a unity deal signed two and a half weeks ago in Cairo.

The factions are protesting what is being called a "bilateral monopoly" between Fatah and Hamas in discussions over the unity government intended to end years of fractured politics in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The factions said in a joint statement that they support the efforts toward unity but hope the deal will take their views into consideration.

Signatories include the Democratic and Popular Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine, Palestinian People’s Party, the Palestinian Democratic Union, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, Palestinian Liberation Front, the Arab Liberation Front, and the Palestinian Arab Front.

The factions all signed a reconciliation deal in Cairo on 4 May, which laid out a path to end the divide between the West Bank and Gaza and to prepare for the holding of elections in a year.

Israel called the agreement a blow to peace.

(Ma’an News)