Fatah and Hamas appear to have more that unites them than divides them. Photo: Suhaib Salem-Pool.

A Hamas spokesman said Sunday that the Islamist group is eager to sign a Palestinian reconciliation deal with rival faction Fatah.

“If the elections were held in a state of tension, it would lead to more division within the Palestinian factions,” Abu Zuhri told the Ma’an News Agency, claiming that Israel was impeding the possibility of a deal because of its action in the West Bank.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar told Ma’an on Friday that the Islamist group is ready to implement the reconciliation deal “word for word.”

“We have made efforts to implement a national reconciliation deal that is steadfast and not based on political authority,” he was quoted as saying.

Unity talks have stalled since a series of meetings in Cairo in February failed to produce the desired results. Delegations from Hamas and Fatah were due to meet again in Cairo on Feb. 27 but Hamas requested the meeting be delayed.