Convoy in Ramallah delivers message to Abbas from Sisi

CAIRO – 3 April 2018: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received Egyptian Intelligence Service Chief Abbas Kamel, and his accompanying delegation, at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah on Tuesday.

The Egyptian delegation was on mission to deliver an important message from President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to his Palestinian counterpart.

For his part, Abbas stressed the depth of relations between the Egyptian and Palestinian leadership, people, and the Palestinian leadership's keenness to boost the relations in the framework of the mutual interest of the two brotherly peoples.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the Egyptian efforts exerted to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

This meeting comes within Intensive communications and efforts that have been taking place since October 2017, and even before then, to finally reach reconciliation that will achieve unity for the Palestinian government; however, some obstacles are still standing in the agreement’s way.

On September 17, Hamas’s movement announced the dissolution of the administrative committee in the Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed in 2011.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said In statements to media outlets that there is no country as vital to the Palestinian cause as Egypt due to its historical and political position in the region. “Egypt has an opinion, a position and an interest in the Palestinian cause,” said Abbas.

Reaching a strong reconciliation demanded the high-profile Egyptian delegation including Kamel to pay frequent and repeated visits to the Gaza Strip during the recent period. On February 25, the delegation started one of its longest visits, which lasted until March 8. During the visit, the delegation met with several Palestinian leaders from all parties and factions.

The Egyptian security delegation returned again to Gaza on March 11 to continue their efforts and meetings. And despite of the failed assassination attempt that targeted Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah On March 2018, putting reconciliation on edge, talks are still struggling to continue.