Islamic Hamas movement and its rival Fatah faction agreed on continuing bilateral meetings until reaching a pact ending all controversial issues.
The agreement was reached following a 90-minute meeting between delegations of Hamas and Fatah in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip Wednesday night, Xinhua reported.
"The meeting was positive and frank. It dealt with all controversial issues and emphasized the necessity of putting mechanisms to end them," said Abdallah el-Ifranji, Fatah envoy who arrived in Gaza Strip this week for the first time after Hamas routed security forces of President Mahmoud Abbas and ousted his Fatah movement in 2007.
The meeting followed a successful Egyptian initiative to launch reconciliation and unity talks between Hamas and Fatah in February and March in Cairo.
The two sides agreed on forming a unity government and holding elections but failed to agree on the government's platform and the electoral law. They will return to Cairo on April 26 to continue the broader talks.
In Gaza meeting, el-Ifranji said Fatah and Hamas agreed on stopping media incitement against each other "and to help each other to settle outstanding issues."