Egyptian delegation meets with Islamic Jihad Movement's leader

CAIRO – 4 March 2018: A top Egyptian security delegation met on Sunday with leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ) in Gaza strip, Khaled el-Batsh, to resume efforts to complete the Palestinian reconciliation.

On March 1, the Egyptian security delegation also met with Head of political bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza regarding the same case.

The PIJ movement aims to establish a sovereign Palestinian Islamic state within the geographical boundaries of Mandatory Palestine before 1948. The organization completely rejects the political process and asserts that its objectives can only be achieved through military means.

In 1990, the headquarters of PIJ moved to the Syrian capital, Damascus, where it continues to be based, with offices in Beirut, Tehran, and Khartoum.

In the same context, on February 25, an Egyptian security delegation arrived in Gaza Strip to discuss the recent developments regarding the reconciliation agreement signed between long-time Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas in Egypt.

Since the signing of the reconciliation agreement in Cairo in mid-October, Egypt has sent several security delegations to the Gaza Strip to follow up on the recently-established government's work.

On February 9, a high-level Hamas delegation led by the political bureau chief Ismail Hanya arrived in Cairo to discuss the implementation process of the Palestinian reconciliation with Egyptian officials. Hamas’ visit comes amid a massive security operation “Sinai 2018” launched by Egypt’s army and police forces to purge the country from terrorism.

According to Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum, the delegation includes Hamas Political Bureau members Khalil al-Hayya, Rawhi Mushtaha and Fathi Hammad. Despite the sudden departure of the delegation from the Gaza strip, Barhoum explained that the delegation will hold talks with Egyptian officials to boost the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement which was signed in Cairo in 2017, and bilateral relations and efforts to ease the Gaza Strip’s dire humanitarian situation. Hamas’ statement described Gaza as “on the edge of the abyss”.