GAZA CITY: Following the news that Hamas has been engaged in talks with Fatah about forming a national Palestinian unity government, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has said the two former rival political parties were now ready to unveil the new alliance.

“Admittedly, it’s not the greatest name,” he told the BBC. “But it was either that or Hamfat, which is just ridiculous. We urge the international community to get their sniggering over with now so we can focus on the urgent matters at hand, ok?”