Prime Minister of Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya called on Saturday for active meetings with rival Fatah movement to resume reconciliation discussions.

"I call for serious meetings to achieve strong and unbreakable national unity," Haniya said in a press statement.

Commenting on the Fatah celebration of its 48th anniversary in Gaza Friday, Haniya said his government wanted to use this event to achieve unity based on protecting the national principles and political partnership.

On Friday, Haniya phoned Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him on the 48th founding anniversary of Fatah movement.

Fatah supporters held a massive celebration in Gaza to mark the movement's founding anniversary.

Hamas has banned Fatah movement from holding public ceremonies since the Islamist party seized control of Gaza by force in 2007.

Last month, the Fatah-led Palestinian National Authority permitted Hamas to celebrate its 25th anniversary in the West Bank, marking the first time Hamas held public rallies since five years. Hamas and Fatah have reached a Qatari-brokered agreement to end their differences in February 2011, but the agreement has not been implemented yet. Endi