The two leading Palestinian factions missed another deadline Thursday to implement a reconciliation deal, potentially burying the landmark accord aimed at ending their decade-long split.

The Hamas movement was supposed to hand over power in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, by December.

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said the Fatah-led government had backed away from the deal "without clear reasons," while Fayez Abu Eita, a Fatah official in Gaza, called for Hamas to respect the agreement.

Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since taking control of Gaza, on Wednesday also saw the United States add its leader Ismail Haniya to a terror blacklist.

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