Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Monday urged Prime Minister Rami Hamallah to carry out his responsibilities in Gaza.

Speaking to Ma’an on Monday, Haniyeh said that Palestinians in Gaza have been disappointed with the performance of the national consensus government.

“They expected the government to rebuild Gaza, pay salaries, and lift the siege,” Haniyeh said.

He stressed that the Hamdallah-led government is responsible for the Gaza Strip just as it is responsible for the West Bank.

Haniyeh also said that contacts between Hamas officials and the unity government were ongoing.

“We are in contact at numerous levels in order to remedy this situation. I hereby tell Dr. Rami: You must take quick steps to remedy the health situation. It is unacceptable to treat Gaza so harshly.”

In April, Hamas agreed to work with its rivals in Abbas’ Fatah movement to form an interim consensus government of technocrats which would work towards long-delayed national elections.

The deal sought to end years of bitter and sometimes bloody rivalry between Hamas and Fatah, which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

(Ma’an – www.maannews.net)