An Egyptian security delegation met on Monday with Hamas leaders for few hours in the Gaza Strip, during a quick visit that ended on the same day.
Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation, which is expected to continue its tour in the region, was seeking to consolidate the truce and looking forward to advancing reconciliation talks.
The delegation, headed by General Ahmed Abdel Khaliq, the director of the Palestinian file, arrived in Gaza through the Israeli Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, a day after a truce agreement was reached between Hamas and Israel. He immediately met with the leadership of the movement in the Gaza Strip before leaving again.
The delegation informed Hamas leaders that it has agreed with Israel to maintain calm, improve the situation in the sector and find a mechanism for the transfer of the Qatari funds.
The Egyptian delegation’s visit followed a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Saturday.
Sisi succeeded in persuading Abbas to give an opportunity to rescue reconciliation efforts and to refrain from adopting new measures against the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Kan radio reported that Abbas has insisted that Hamas hand over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, including the security services, along with the departments of tax collection and crossings, ministries, land authorities and the judiciary.
Palestinian sources confirmed that the Egyptian delegation briefed Hamas leaders on these details and discussed the possibility of pushing reconciliation efforts forward in order to finalize the truce agreement.
The sources noted the delegation informed Hamas that Abbas would not take new measures against the Gaza Strip, but that the government should be empowered. However, Hamas emphasized that the Palestinian president should cancel current measures against the sector, a demand still rejected by Abbas.
Israel reached an agreement with Hamas under Egyptian auspices on understandings based on the 2014 agreement signed in Egypt between Israel and Palestinian factions. The agreement is based on maintaining calm, allowing for the delivery of Qatari fuel, in addition to a Qatari grant earmarked for the salaries of Hamas employees.
Sisi told Abbas that the understandings were temporary until a reconciliation agreement is reached between Fatah and Hamas, after which a formal and long-term truce agreement would be signed.
