After deal, Hamas eyes gesture from the West

Reconciliation accord closes rift between rival Palestinian parties

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories - After sealing a historic unity deal with its rival Fatah, Gaza's Hamas rulers believe the West can no longer afford to ignore them and must end its policy of ostracism.

The surprise accord, which was signed this week in a bid to end years of bitter rivalry between the two factions, has brought Hamas some much-needed legitimacy, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said in an interview with AFP.