Hamas and Fatah officials met in Cairo on Sunday in order to renew talks on Palestinian reconciliation.

The two sides are due to meet on Tuesday to sign a reconciliation agreement, although its implementation is expected to be postponed since the parties decided to delay the discussion on the formation of a Fatah-Hamas unity government until after January 26.

Until now, the two sides have only been discussing the makeup of the Palestinian election committee.

Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad told the London based newspaper Al-Hayat that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be traveling to Cairo on Wednesday.

Abbas is expected to head a meeting on Thursday attended by Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad members. Hamas' deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouk will be attending the meeting along with other senior Hamas officials.

The rival Palestinian factions have been attempting to put into action a reconciliation agreement brokered by Egypt and signed earlier this year in Cairo.

Israel has rejected the agreement, refusing to negotiate with a government including Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.