On 13 October 2016, the Legal Committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) endorsed a request for the return of Haniyeh’s government to the Gaza Strip, following its resignation on 2 June 2014. The endorsement was made in response to PLC’s review of a study submitted by members of Hamas’ parliament, angry about perceived government failings following Haniyeh’s resignation. In Hamas’ own words, denouncing the consensus government’s “reneging on the internal accord between Hamas and factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization to form the 2014 consensus government, and replacing a number of ministers with Fatah leaders – turning it into a Fatah government.” Despite the PLC recommendation and Hamas’ plea, both the consensus government and Fatah refused the request, citing in a press release its illegality and risk of further divisions between Hamas-controlled Gaza and the West Bank.