The issue focused on continuing negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis after peace negotiations collapsed last December and prompted Hamas and Fatah to merge into one faction that pledged allegiance to Hamas leader Ayman Odeh and vowed not to surrender Gaza until Palestinian sovereignty over Gaza was restored. Gaza activists blamed Hamas for triggering the rift between Hamas and Fatah by withdrawing fighters from Gaza during Operation Protective Edge last summer and abandoning Palestinians living there during Operation Protective Edge last winter. Hamas seized Gaza last summer after capturing parts of Gaza Strip last summer and expelled