Egypt delegation in Gaza to discuss reconstruction, ceasefire

The head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip yesterday afternoon

The head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip yesterday afternoon to hold talks on the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Entering through the Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip, the delegation was received by the head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, and the movement’s leadership.

This is Kamel’s first visit to Gaza since he took office in 2018.

In a press conference following the meeting, member of Hamas’ political bureau, Khalil Al-Hayya, explained that the most important file discussed was the need to make the occupation stop its aggression against Gaza and Jerusalem, including the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, and all across Palestine, and to rein in the illegal settlers.

He pointed out that Hamas and Egypt affirmed the need to force the occupation to comply with international laws and decisions issued with regards to the Palestinian people that stipulated the establishment of a Palestinian state and the return of refugees. “If this would happen, calm could return to the entire region,” he said.

He indicated that the two sides discussed completely lifting the siege on Gaza.

READ: Hamas rejects linking reconstruction of Gaza with prisoner swap

He continued: “We affirmed the need to hasten the arrangement of the Palestinian home, starting with the PLO, and to agree on a comprehensive national strategy, to stand before the world as a united nation with a coherent leadership possessing a clear political program and a strategic vision in order to obtain the legitimate rights of our people.”

Egypt delegation in Gaza to discuss reconstruction, ceasefire [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

“We talked about the need to accelerate reconstruction, and we said clearly that we welcome all efforts to rebuild the destroyed homes, farms, economic establishments, and infrastructure. We thank everyone who contributes, and we and the whole nation will be facilitators and supporters of it.”

Regarding the prisoner exchange file, Al-Hayya asserted that it is “a separate file from all files, and we will not allow it to be linked to any other file.”

He revealed that progress has been made in this regard during meetings before the Israeli attack on Gaza, but he noted that the occupation is not yet serious about this, and if it were, they could have proceeded quickly with this matter.

“We will not accept linking the prisoner exchange file to the file of reconstruction, siege, and Palestinian rights, and this, I believe, is understood by our brothers in Egypt.”

Egypt delegation in Gaza to discuss reconstruction, ceasefire [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

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