Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    GAZA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A former Palestinian independent minister on Saturday urged feuding factions of Hamas and Fatah to establish dialogue immediately to stop actions on the ground.

    Ziad Abu Amr, the foreign minister of the former coalition government, also called on the Arab states to mediate to achieve a solution ending the Palestinian split according to the Arab initiative for reconciliation.

    Hamas launched a crackdown against Fatah members, organizations and pro-Fatah clans in the Gaza Strip following a mysterious blast that killed a girl and five Hamas members on the beach late last month.

    In retaliation, President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement arrested dozens of Hamas people in its controlled West Bank. The two sides also escalated their campaigns of incitement on the media.

    "I hope that what is going on the ground has its particular reasons that can be handled," Abu Amr said, urging the two sides to "overcome the circle of actions and reaction."

    The first step needs to be taken to end the crisis is the release of the political prisoners the two sides hold, Abu Amr said. "This is an appeal for all Palestinian leaders, including Hamas and Fatah."

    The current crackdown in Gaza is the hardest against Fatah since the defeat of the secular movement in last year fighting, after which Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza while Abbas consolidated his control in the West Bank.