Hamas movement says reaching a reconciliation deal with rival Fatah party is a precondition for its participation in the Palestinian elections early next year, Press TV reported.
Hamas sources in Gaza stressed that the movement would never go to legislative and presidential elections on January 25 before signing a reconciliation deal that ends the current internal rift.
"Ending the file of political prisoners in the West Bank, and reaching a reconciliation agreement are conditions for holding the elections on time. Otherwise, the idea will be rejected for sure," the sources told Xinhua.
They said the recent separate talks, which a senior Egyptian security delegation held in the last couple of days with Fatah and Hamas leaders in both Ramallah and Damascus, 'were not fruitful'.
"Hamas expressed its position before the Egyptian officials that August 25 must be the date for signing a reconciliation agreement and not just a continuation of ill and fruitless dialogue."
The movement's senior leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar has insisted that Hamas wants to end the feuds, release prisoners and reach a reconciliation agreement before going to the ballots.
On Wednesday, Hamas released from its Gaza jail 100 prisoners and Fatah members.
Hamas ministry of interior said in a statement that the release of 50 Fatah prisoners and another 50 held for criminal accusations were a goodwill gesture on the occasion of Ramadan, Muslims' annual month of fasting which is to start on Saturday in the Islamic world.
"The 50 Fatah prisoners were arrested for security reasons," said the statement.
Hamas boycotted the inter-Palestinian dialogue, which was scheduled for November 2008 in Cairo, in protest at the detention of its members by Fatah forces.
Differences between the two Palestinian factions reached its peak in June 2007 when Hamas forced out Fatah security forces from the Gaza Strip to 'foil an attempted coup by some Fatah elements'.
Later, acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas, in response, dismissed the Hamas government headed by Ismail Haniya, who had come to power after winning the democratic elections in 2006.
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