Hamas is ready to handnover control of the Rafah Crossing to any party on the basis of a “political partnership, not replacement”, the Anadolu Agency reported the movement’s deputy saying.
Deputy Hamas Chief and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told journalists in Gaza: “We are ready to accept any initiative that contributes to opening the Rafah Crossing, but it must be based on political partnership, not change or replacement.”
He called on the Palestinian unity government to bear its responsibilities towards the Gaza Strip and carry out its duties.
Two weeks ago, the head of Fatah’s parliamentarian bloc Azzam Al-Ahmad claimed that his movement had forged an agreement with Egypt to open the crossing on condition that Hamas hand over the administration of the crossing and not be part of its operations.
Egyptian media has reported that Egypt will only open the crossing if Hamas does not operate it.
Former chief of Gaza crossings Maher Abu-Sabha revealed that the PA and Fatah have never discussed the Rafah Crossing with Egypt, adding that they have not discussed the crossing with Hamas either.
“All the remarks about opening of the crossing were false as Egypt has told Hamas that the crossing would operate in the same manner even if Hamas left it,” he wrote on Facebook.
“I attended all the meetings about for the crossing, they did not discuss the crossing for more than one per cent of the time,” he said of the PA and Hamas’s discussions on Gaza’s only portal to the world.
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