The Gaza Agreement was signed in Gaza City on 23 April 2014 by Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Hamas administration in Gaza, and a senior PLO delegation dispatched by Palestinian President Abbas. Its main purposes were reconciliation between the parties and the formation of a
national unity government within five weeks, to be followed by general elections in December.
Reactions Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the
Palestinian National Initiative, who was involved in the negotiation, described the deal as an "end to the division between the Palestinian people." Israel reacted angrily to the Fatah–Hamas Gaza Agreement of 23 April 2014. Israel halted peace talks with the Palestinians, saying it "will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel's destruction", and threatened sanctions against the Palestinian Authority, including a previously announced Israeli plan to unilaterally deduct Palestinian debts to Israeli companies from the tax revenue Israel collects for the PA. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu accused Abbas of sabotaging peace efforts. He said that Abbas cannot have peace with both Hamas and Israel and has to choose. Abbas said the deal did not contradict their commitment to peace with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution and assured reporters that any unity government would recognize Israel, be non-violent, and bound to previous PLO agreements. Shortly after, Israel began implementing economic sanctions against Palestinians and canceled plans to build housing for Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank. Abbas also threatened to dissolve the PA, leaving Israel fully responsible for both the West Bank and Gaza, a threat that the PA has not put into effect. The United States said it was troubled by the announcement, which "could seriously complicate" negotiations to extend peace negotiations and could implications, inter alia regarding aid. ==West Bank plot==