Haniyeh renews Hamas’ interest in starting afresh with Egypt

Deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau Ismail Haniyeh said that his movement is eager to “start a new phase with Egypt.”

In a speech yesterday, he said: “We will work to turn the page of the past differences with Egypt, return warmth to our mutual relations, and start a new phase.”

The meeting was attended by leaders of the Fatah movement, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Haniyeh said: “Restoring the relationship with Egypt stems from a strategic vision which Hamas has.”

He reaffirmed his movement’s keenness to maintain Egypt’s national security, respecting its borders and not allowing anyone to use the Gaza Strip to harm it.

Last month, a delegation from Hamas met with Egyptian officials, in the Egyptian capital Cairo. No information has been released about the outcome of the talks.

Hamas-Egypt relation has been an extremely tense one since the toppling of the former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.