The spokesman for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made the remarks after UN special envoy Robert Serry held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.

"The United Nations has long underscored the need for progress towards Palestinian unity," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

In April, the Fatah movement and Hamas signed an agreement to end seven years of rivalry and from a unity government. On Saturday, acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas said that the new government will be formed of “technocrats and independents” and that it will reject violence.

"The United Nations stands ready to lend its full support to the newly formed government in its effort to reunite the West Bank and Gaza... under one legitimate Palestinian authority," he added.

That issue, "the serious political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges in Gaza, and holding long overdue elections" were discussed by Serry and Hamdallah, the spokesman said.

Washington also agreed to work with the new government, prompting a furious reaction from the Israeli regime, which has spent years of war and occupation that have led to division of Palestine to two far away parts.

SHI/SHI