Hamas is willing to recognize prior agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, according to Palestinian sources based in Damascus.

The sources told the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat on Wednesday that Hamas would also empower PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to conduct negotiations with Israel for a period of two years.

Hamas' recognition of prior agreements is one of the three conditions the Quartet has set for ending international sanctions against the Hamas-led PA. In addition, the Quartet wants Hamas to recognize Israel and renounce violence.

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According to the sources, the fundamental change in the group's position was achieved in talks between Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, also of Hamas, at the beginning of the week.

The new position was presented to Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al Thani, the sources said. Al Thani subsequently arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday in an unsuccessful bid to mediate a deal between Hamas and Fatah on the establishment of a unity government.

According to the Al-Hayat report, Al Thani's efforts failed due to Hamas' refusal to recognize the two-state solution to the conflict and call for an end to terror attacks, as Abbas has demanding.