GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Optimism is rising among Palestinians about the implementation of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, and preparations have begun for the formation of a unified Palestinian government that includes representatives from both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, at the same time, fears remain surrounding the agreement’s ability to restore social cohesion among Palestinians. The rivalry among the latter has deepened throughout seven years of division and mutual recriminations, public accusations, defamation and allegations of treason.

Restoring social peace with the victims of the division remains a major hurdle in the reconciliation process. The political split was not confined to the two rival governments in Gaza and Ramallah, but permeated all levels of Palestinian society.

The families of those killed and those who were arrested, tortured, abused or had their human rights flagrantly violated have diverging views about the Palestinian reconciliation agreement and the pardoning of the killers and torturers of their sons and relatives.

Al-Monitor spoke to Ibrahim Mansour, the brother of one of the victims of the clashes that occurred between Hamas and Fatah in June 2007. His brother was killed by security forces belonging to the Palestinian Authority because he was a member of Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Mansour said that he would reject the political reconciliation agreement if the families’ rights were not restored by punishing the killers or at least banishing them from the Gaza Strip.