Egyptian security delegation arrives in blockaded Gaza

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine

An Egyptian security delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday via the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to wrap up talks with Hamas officials.

According to a statement released by the crossing’s media office, the delegation includes Ahmed Abdel Khaleq, a top Egyptian intelligence officer responsible for the Palestine file.

Members of the delegation declined to answer Anadolu Agency’s questions regarding the duration of their anticipated stay in Gaza.

In a statement issued in the early afternoon, Hamas reported that Ismael Haniyeh, its leader in Gaza, was meeting with the visiting Egyptian officials.

“Haniyeh has begun his meeting with members of the Egyptian delegation,” the statement read.

Notably, the delegation’s arrival comes in advance of an expected visit to Gaza by Egyptian General Intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, which, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Sunday, would happen "soon".

According to Qassem, Kamel had been scheduled to visit Gaza last weekend, but the trip was postponed.

Qassem told Anadolu Agency that members of an earlier Egyptian delegation that visited Gaza last week had confirmed to Hamas leaders that preparations were underway for Kamel’s visit to the blockaded strip.

Hamas, the spokesman stressed, was keen to see a successful outcome to Egypt’s ongoing efforts to both mediate a Hamas-Israel truce and promote reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.

Last week, an Egyptian security delegation met with officials from both Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, and rival Palestinian faction Fatah, which largely controls the Ramallah-based Palestinian government.