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Islamic Jihad says Egypt talks on Gaza 'fruitful'

March 8, 2015 at 1:59 pm

Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ramadan Shalah on Saturday informed the deputy head of the political office of Palestinian faction Hamas Ismail Haniyeh about the outcome of talks conducted in Cairo recently between an Islamic Jihad delegation and the Egyptian leadership.

Haniyeh’s office said in a statement that Shalah described the talks conducted in Cairo as both “positive” and “fruitful.”

It added that the talks resulted in a decision by Egyptian authorities to reopen the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip for two days as of Monday.

Shalah expected more positive results of the talks to unfold in the days to come, Haniyeh’s office said in the statement.

It said Haniyeh lauded efforts made by Islamic Jihad to improve relations between Hamas and Egypt soon after an Egyptian court designated the Palestinian faction a “terrorist organisation.”

An Islamic Jihad delegation on Saturday wrapped up a visit to Cairo during which it met with Egyptian officials and discussed developments on the Palestinian scene and relations between Egypt and Hamas.

Relations between Egypt and Hamas deteriorated remarkably following the ouster by the Egyptian army of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July of 2013.