Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and several Palestinian ministers entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday to attend the first unity government meeting, marking the end of more than seven years of absolute Hamas control of the coastal territory. The Palestinian ministers from the West Bank reached the Strip via the Erez Crossing between Israel and the Strip, after receiving permits from Israel. The issuing of permits marked a reversal of the Israeli government's declaration, made after the Palestinian government was formed, that it would not allow members to cross Israeli territory.