Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo for ‘Exploratory’ Meetings

Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
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Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo for ‘Exploratory’ Meetings

Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)

A Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo mid-September to meet with Egyptian officials for further talks on pending issues, an official from the Palestinian movement official said on Sunday.

Hamas politburo member Maher Obeid said that the meetings will tackle various Palestinian files, especially reconciliation and a ceasefire with Israel.

Delegations from the Popular and Democratic fronts are expected to arrive for periodic meetings with Egyptian officials after efforts, especially peace negotiations, failed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been accused of hindering the efforts.

Hamas has escalated its actions against Israel prior to the arrival of its delegation to Egypt and plans to revive popular rallies along the Gaza-Israel border, including the possibility of relaunching incendiary kites.

These acts aim at shedding light on the deteriorating situation in Gaza and serve as a strong protest message following the end of truce talks.

“Hamas believes that mediators will once again take action if Israel comes under pressure,” Asharq Al-Awsat had earlier quoted the movement as saying.

Obeid stressed that "if the masses of our people stepped up the march of return and put new pressure on the occupation, then truce will be achieved and Israel will pay for its actions."

“The fate of the peaceful return marches, especially after freezing the truce talks, depends on the movement of the Palestinian masses,” Obeid told the local Palestinian al-Istiqlal newspaper.

“Truce efforts have not completely stopped, but they are witnessing a state of laxity and change in the priorities of the parties, so that their priority will be to start reconciliation and then to address to other matters, led by the PA,” he added.

“However, it seems that our people will head towards escalation ... in order to achieve the desired goals,” Obeid stressed.

Egypt-sponsored truce talks between Palestinian factions and Israel last month were halted after Abbas's threats that he would not allow a truce in the Gaza Strip since it will help separate the enclave from the West Bank and lead the way for the adoption of the so-called “Deal of the Century”.



Israeli Civilian Killed by Rocket Fired from Lebanon

Smoke rises from a site targeted by the Israeli army in the southern Lebanese border village of Kfar Kila on July 29, 2024, amid ongoing border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters (AFP)
Smoke rises from a site targeted by the Israeli army in the southern Lebanese border village of Kfar Kila on July 29, 2024, amid ongoing border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters (AFP)
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Israeli Civilian Killed by Rocket Fired from Lebanon

Smoke rises from a site targeted by the Israeli army in the southern Lebanese border village of Kfar Kila on July 29, 2024, amid ongoing border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters (AFP)
Smoke rises from a site targeted by the Israeli army in the southern Lebanese border village of Kfar Kila on July 29, 2024, amid ongoing border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters (AFP)

A rocket fired from Lebanon killed an Israeli civilian on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Tension has spiked along the frontier after a rocket Israel said Hezbollah fired killed 12 children on Saturday in the Israeli-held Golan Heights.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Tuesday it fired at Israeli warplanes that broke the sound barrier in Lebanese airspace.

Hezbollah added that it forced the warplanes to turn back.