Palestinian unity is of paramount importance...

Fayed Mustafa told a RIA Novosti news conference on the anniversary of the conflict that Israel had taken advantage of a split between the leading Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, to launch its attack on Gaza.

"Israel used that political split. It is imperative for the Palestinians to draw lessons from this experience and make serious efforts as soon as possible to end this division," he said, urging "unity and consolidation."

The radical Islamic group Hamas kicked Fatah, the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, out of Gaza in the summer 2007, after a series of armed clashes. Fatah now rules the West Bank.

Over 1,000 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed after Israel launched an attack on the Gaza Strip during the winter of 2008-2009. Israel was widely criticized for the assault, which came in response to launches of homemade missiles at southern Israel by Palestinian militants.

More than 400,000 residents of the impoverished enclave

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