An Egyptian security delegation, which visited Gaza, offered Hamas and Islamic Jihad a new package of facilities, which includes the entry of goods through the Rafah crossing.
The delegation conveyed a message from Israel on Tel Aviv’s readiness to implement the facilities, in exchange for calm on the border. Those would include restoring the fishing area from 6 to 15 miles, improving electricity and fuel, allowing the entry of materials that were banned under the classification of “dual use”, and increasing the quantities of exported goods.
The Egyptians also offered Hamas the possibility to introduce more goods into the besieged Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
In return, Israel is demanding an end to any attacks across Gaza, including marches, rockets, and incendiary balloons.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas has demanded guarantees for Israel’s commitment to the agreement, the implementation of which was delayed several times. They added that the Israeli proposals were the same promised years ago.
The Egyptian security delegation, headed by Major General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq, head of the Palestinian file in the Egyptian intelligence, met late Sunday with the leadership of Hamas, represented by the head of the Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, and a number of leaders of the movement in Gaza.
A Hamas statement said the two sides discussed “the importance of developing bilateral relations to achieve the common interests of both Egypt and the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, and to build on what has been realized in the past stage.”
The movement affirmed its unwavering stance on building strategic relations with Egypt and Cairo’s pivotal role in the region.
