Hamas-Egyptian Talks Positive, Boosted Bilateral Relations, Rafah Crossing Will Be Operational Soon

Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Hamas: Cairo talks positive, boosted political relations with Egypt

[ 03/02/2008 - 12:02 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement stated that the Cairo talks conducted between its delegation and the Egyptian leadership were positive and boosted its political relations with Egypt, adding that the meetings discussed many issues related to the siege, crossings and the internal discord.

In a press release published on Sunday, Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman, explained that the talks were marked by transparency, openness and genuine concern for the Palestinian national interest, pointing out that both parties agreed on many "partial issues" including the formation of committees for political coordination.

Regarding the Rafah crossing, Taha said that Hamas tabled its vision during the talks with the Egyptian side which states that the Rafah crossing is a purely Palestinian- Egyptian passage and must be used to serve the Palestinian people and to ensure the entry of food, medical supplies and all basic needs to the Gaza Strip, adding that the vision took the Egyptian national security into account.

The spokesman underlined that it was agreed to end the suffering of Palestinian patients where many patients stranded in Al-Arish were admitted into Cairo's hospitals and arrangements will be made later to schedule other hospital admissions.

Taha deplored PA chief Mahmoud Abbas for clinging to the crossings agreement signed in 2005 which if implemented will bring back the Israeli occupation to the Gaza Strip.

In a leaked letter, MP Emad Nofal, the prisoner in the Israel Megiddo jail, called on all Palestinian parties to agree on new mechanisms to operate the Gaza crossings without any interference by the Israeli occupation and its allies.

MP Nofal castigated the PA chief's insistence on reviving the previous crossings agreements signed with the Israeli occupation, saying: "The Zionists proved that they will give our people nothing but woes, siege, killing and destruction, so why we still insist that they play a role in our lives."

The imprisoned MP hailed the caretaker government's national positions and its adherence to the Palestinian constants and rights despite heavy pressures laid on its shoulder.

For his part, MP Mohammed Ismail imprisoned in the Israeli Netsan jail, hailed Egypt's positions in support of the Palestinian people against the Israeli suffocating siege, calling on the Arab countries to assume their responsibilities and support these Egyptian positions.

Zahar: The Rafah crossing will be operational soon

[ 02/02/2008 - 05:12 PM ]

RAFAH, (PIC)--

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, stated Saturday upon his return to Gaza that the Rafah crossing will soon be operational as a fully Palestinian-Egyptian passage thus achieving the higher interests of the two brotherly countries.

In a press conference held at the Rafah crossing, Dr. Zahar said that Egypt promised to make efforts for the reopening of the crossing in the near future and that it will not allow the starvation of Gaza people, adding that it was agreed with the Egyptian side to form channels of communication whereby the two parties will jointly manage and organize the borders.

The Hamas leader announced that the Palestinian-Egyptian borders will be closed Sunday morning in cooperation between security men of both sides until the procedures aimed at rearranging the movement of entry and exit have been completed, pointing out that the caretaker government headed by premier Ismail Haniya will do its utmost to control the crossing.

He explained that the coming days will witness a series of positive developments, describing his visit and the delegation accompanying him to Cairo as highly successful.

The Hamas leader underlined that it was agreed with the Egyptian health minister to sort out and prepare the names of Palestinians stranded in the Arish city including students and employees working abroad as well as patients in need of medical treatment in order to grant them travel visas for their destinations the soonest.

Simultaneously with the return of the Hamas delegation from Cairo, thousands of Palestinian women participated Saturday afternoon in a massive march organized by Hamas's female supporters at the Rafah crossing, where they chanted slogans calling for lifting the siege and opening the Rafah crossing under Palestinian-Egyptian sovereignty.

Umm Mohammed Al-Rantisi, one of Hamas's female leaders, stated that the march aims to send a letter to the PA leadership in Ramallah who are trying to restore the previous conditions at the crossing and bring back the Israeli occupation.

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