De facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday that Hamas seeks national reconciliation and is not afraid of elections "because we came to move forward and take responsibility and we will not back down under any circumstances."

His remarks came during a ceremony honoring Gaza Transportation Minister Usama Al-Isawy.

Haniyeh pointed out that the transportation sector has developed in a variety of ways, including new parking standards and the removal of unregistered cars, which he said once threatened residents' safety.

On Sunday, senior-most Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al said his movement is ready for reconciliation, following the funeral of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, allegedly by Israeli operatives in Dubai.

"The martyrs' message is to reunite; we will go to reconciliation in God’s will and we will give everything for the sake of reconciliation – this is a promise," he said at the Damascus funeral.

Hamas claims an Israeli assassination squad killed Al-Mabhouh, although the Islamic movement's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, originally told Ma'an last Wednesday that the official died of terminal cancer.

Masha'al called on "the Arabs to genuinely embrace us ... Gather us in Cairo with whomever you choose and you will find true reconciliation. This is simply the way. This is my message to my brothers in Egypt."

"Respect what we've agreed upon; we'll reconcile and sign on what we've agreed upon," he added.