Hamas official: Saudi mediated delegation’s visit to Egypt

Saudi Arabia intervened to improve relations between Hamas and Egypt which deteriorated after the Egyptian interior minister accused the movement of masterminding the assassination of former Attorney General Hisham Barakat, Hamas member Ahmed Yousef revealed.

“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, has contributed significantly through his contacts to ease the tense atmosphere between Hamas and Egypt,” Yousef told AlKhaleejOnline news site.

He described the atmosphere surrounding Hamas’s meeting with Egyptian intelligence as positive, adding that “will contribute significantly to the progress of the files that the parties intend to discuss in Cairo”.

He said that his movement “is looking forward to opening a new page in its relations with Egypt.”

Last Sunday, Egypt’s Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar accused Hamas of training the Muslim Brotherhood elements who assassinated the country’s former Attorney General. Hamas denied the claims.

The Hamas delegation is headed by Mousa Abu-Marzouk and includes Mahmoud Al-Zahar, Khalil Al- Hayya and Nizar Awadallah.