国际英语资讯:Egyptian delegation meets Hamas leaders over cease-fire, reconciliation issues

GAZA, Sept. 22 -- A high-ranking Egyptian security delegation on Saturday met with the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders at Haniyeh's office in Gaza City, local sources said.

They discussed two issues: a cease-fire in Gaza with Israel and the internal reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Egyptian delegation, headed by Ahmad Abdul Khaleq in charge of the Palestinian issue in the Egyptian Security Intelligence and another Egyptian diplomat, arrived in the Gaza Strip earlier on Saturday, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

According to the Palestinian Authority Liaison office, the delegation crossed into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave through the Erez Crossing on the border between northern Gaza and Israel.

The Egyptian delegation will carry Hamas' responses to the two issues to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the sources said, without detailing what the responses are.

The Egyptian delegation left Gaza on Saturday afternoon after the talks.

Egypt has been for years the major sponsor between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to end the 12 years of internal division.

The North African country has also been mediating between the Islamic movement and Israel to reach a possible cease-fire.

However, the Palestinian Authority insists that the internal reconciliation must come before Hamas' truce with Israel.

In October 2017, Egypt brokered a reconciliation agreement between the two Palestinian rivals, in which Hamas agreed to transfer power in Gaza to the Palestinian consensus government.

However, no progress has since been made in implementing the agreement because of their division on security, tax collections and full control on the Gaza Strip and its crossing points.