The Vice President of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing around the clock, adding that the decision to open it in one direction for two days is not enough.
Haniyeh explained that “the Rafah crossing issue is not a security issue, although security is at the heart of things, but for Palestine and Gaza, it must remain a political and humanitarian issue.”
“Egypt’s security is our security, we did not, we will not, and we do not tamper with the security of Egypt, and there are many evidences and indications which support what I am saying.”
Haniyeh once again denied media reports that Hamas intends to establish a separate state in the Gaza Strip, saying: “Those rumours come within the framework of attempts to disrupt the resistance.”
“Gaza is nothing but a part of the land of Palestine that carries the issue of Palestine and the cause of the liberation of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa,” he confirmed.
He stressed that the Israeli threats do not scare Gaza, noting that the resistance factions and the security services have contained the recent security deterioration, referring to a rocket that was fired from Gaza, which he described as a “stray missile”.