New reconciliation in Gaza with Egyptian mediation

CAIRO – 30 May 2018: An alleged reconciliation between Palestine political factions and Israeli authorities was conducted with Egyptian mediation on Wednesday, sources told Egypt Today.

It was added that the reconciliation came in accordance with the 2014 deliberations that took place between president Mahmoud Abbas and the chairman of the Israeli Labor Party, Isaac Herzog.

Islamic Jihad Movement member Ahmed al-Medalal told media outlets on Tuesday night that Egypt is exerting huge efforts to reach a political and acceptable solution for the current situation in Gaza.

On May 29, Mohamed al-Barim Abu Mujahid, spokesperson for the Palestinian Resistance Committees, hailed Egypt for standing with Gaza, saying that Egypt’s continued communications and efforts have helped to ease the situation in Palestine.

In statements to media outlets, Abu Mujahid added that Egypt’s decision to open the Rafah border crossing since the beginning of the crisis has been a great aid for Gazans under Israeli siege.

“All of us are determined not to allow any Israeli attack against us without a firm response. We will not accept any kind of violence anymore,” Abu Mujahid said.

On May 18, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ordered to keep the Rafah crossing with Gaza open for the entire month of Ramadan.

Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by the Israeli army.

Egypt has been exerting constant efforts to support the Palestinians and bring peace to the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are killed by the Israeli forces along the Gaza-Israel fence.

The Egyptian leader has ordered the relevant authorities to keep the crossing open to ease some of the burdens of the Gaza Strip residents. Keeping the crossing open will allow the passage of diesel fuel, construction materials, food and medicine.

“I issued directives to take the necessary measures to keep the Rafah border crossing open throughout the holy month of Ramadan in a bid to relieve some of the burdens suffered by our brothers in the Gaza Strip,” Sisi posted on Facebook and Twitter.

This crossing was mainly specialized for individual movements across borders, and was being prepared for the transfer of goods between the two countries. The importance of the Rafah border crossing increased after Israeli forces destroyed the Yasser Arafat International Airport in 2001, which was the only airport allowing Palestinians to travel.

Another reconciliation was signed in Cairo in October 2017 between Palestinian rival factions Fath and Hamas in order to achieve more stability within the Palestinian land and authorities.

On September 17, the Hamas 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 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.