Hamas says Egypt is unfit to mediate for Palestinian reconciliation

A spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has said that Egypt is now “unfit” to act as mediator in the talks about Palestinian reconciliation. Sami Abu Zuhri cited the recent court ruling in Egypt which lists Hamas as a “terrorist organisation” as the reason why it is no longer suited to a mediation role.

The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters, led by Judge Mohamed El-Sayed, ruled on Saturday that the movement in its entirety, not just the military wing, should be regarded as a “terrorist” group. The decision provoked a furious response in solidarity with Hamas.

According to the Islamic movement, it is a “shocking” decision which targets the Palestinian people and resistance forces. “The court has turned the equation upside down,” it said, “making the Israelis friends and the Palestinians the enemies.”