Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday ordered his security forces to release most members or supporters of Hamas in a goodwill gesture to his rival movement before the renewal of inter-factional talks.

Azzam Al-Ahmed, a member of Fatah team to Cairo reconciliation talks, said that the release process is expected to complete during the coming 24 hours and will include all Hamas activists "except the people who pose a public security threat and still have trials underway."

Al-Ahmad added that the move "comes under the efforts to pave the way for the success of the national dialogue," referring to Egyptian-sponsored talks.

Earlier, the Palestinian Authority said it had freed 20 Hamas prisoners from its jails in the West Bank where Fatah holds sway.

In 2007, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces in the Gaza Strip and seized the territory. Since then, the two groups have been cracking down against their political opponents — Hamas people in the West Bank and Fatah members in Gaza.

Hamas says up to 750 of its supporters are held in the West Bank while Fatah says Hamas continues hunting down its partisans, especially the former security employees, in Gaza. Egypt said it was determined to declare a Palestinian reconciliation by July 7 though Hamas and Fatah did not yet settle all outstanding issues.

Egypt has hold five rounds of talks aimed at overcoming the increasingly feud.

Prior to July 7, specialized committees will continue meetings in Cairo to bridge the gaps, although Hamas and Fatah have not made any clear progress on the issues of forming a unity government, reforming security services and elections.

Egyptian sources said on Sunday that the reason Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Egypt over the weekend was to hear about Cairo's plan to advance a broader deal for a cease-fire with the Gaza Strip and a rapprochement between the Palestinian factions.