World Bulletin/News Desk

Gazan hospital cleaners decided to suspend their 15-day-old labor strike Thursday after receiving promises that their grievances would be addressed within two weeks, a union that represents them said Thursday.

In a statement, the union added that cabinet ministers in the Palestinian unity government had promised the cleaners that it would work on resolving their grievances within the next two weeks.

"Cleaning companies have decided to give cabinet ministers a chance to help the striking cleaners obtain justice," the union said, noting that Gazan hospital cleaners had not received salaries in recent months.

According to the union, around 750 cleaners have not received their salaries since the formation in June of the unity government.

The government's failure to pay the cleaners had forced the latter to declare a labor strike that lasted for 15 days.

The union had earlier said that the Health Ministry's failure to pay the cleaners had contributed to their suffering, noting that each cleaner should receive a monthly salary of 700 Israeli shekels (roughly $200).

In April, rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal that led to the formation in June of the unity government.

The government, however, has yet to assume responsibility for the Gaza Strip, sorely hindering the disbursement of public-sector salaries in the embattled coastal enclave.