Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    GAZA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Secret talks are going on between the rival movements of Fatah and Hamas to resume the general dialogue, which collapsed following Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, an aide to sacked Hamas prime minister Ismail Haneya revealed on Tuesday.

    "There are efforts and initiatives to bridge the gap between Hamas and Fatah but these attempts remain behind closed doors," said Ahmed Youssef, Haneya's political advisor.

    There has been no official dialogue between Hamas and rival Fatah since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid June, which prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to dismiss the Haneya-led coalition government and appoint a new one led by the U.S.-backed prime minister Salam Fayyad.

    Youssef said that Russia has started to play a bigger role in the mediation after both Hamas leaders and Abbas paid separate visits to Moscow.

    "Abbas's talks with the Russians have boosted his convictions that dialogue is the only way to restore Gaza and reunite the Palestinian people," Youssef added.

    But Abbas seems to be sticking to his preconditions for any dialogue, which demand Hamas to evacuate security compounds in Gaza, restore things in Gaza to pre-takeover condition and recognize the Fayyad-led new government.

    Ahmed Qureai, a member of Fatah's central committee, said he believed Hamas and Fatah were "plunging into complete cut of ties if Hamas' coup remained in place."

    He warned that political separation between the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and the Fatah-controlled West Bank would strengthen with the physical cut-off between the two territories.