Deputy Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday that the borders of the Gaza Strip with Egypt have been made “safe by a political decision.” He called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah Crossing and facilitate the normal life of residents in the enclave.
Mr Haniyeh was speaking during a celebration organised in the southern city of Rafah adjacent to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
“We have no military or security roles in Sinai or the Egyptian Rafah,” he said. “We did not allow anyone to destabilise Egypt in the past, and we will not allow anyone to do so in the future.”
He stressed that his movement maintains “good relations” with Egypt and denied any interference in Egypt’s internal affairs; a policy that is upheld by the movement toward all other Arab countries.
Read: Hamas looks forward to a new phase with Egypt
During the speech which covered a range of issue, Mr Haniyeh condemned the assassination of the former Palestinian prisoner Omar Al-Naif in the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria. He described this as a “shameful stigma” and damning proof of “Israel’s ongoing crimes” against the Palestinian people.
In this regard, Haniyeh held the Palestinian Authority responsibility for the assassination, calling on it to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also saluted the prisoner Mohamed Al-Qeeq, who ended his 94-day hunger-strike on Friday. He was protesting against his captivity in Israeli administrative detention.
Regarding the ongoing intifada in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, Haniyeh reiterated that this movement “fully supports it,” describing it as “the greatest strategic turning point” to occur in recent years.
On the issue of national reconciliation Haniyeh said Hamas remains absolutely committed to achieving it on the basis of “full partnership and mutual recognition.” He lamented the fact that elements within Fatah are still refusing to recognise Hamas as a military, political and democratically legitimate power.
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