Hamas delegation in Cairo for security-related talks

CAIRO – 03 July 2017: A delegation of Hamas officials visited Cairo Sunday to discuss with Egyptian officials issues regarding securing borders between Gaza and Egypt, and to follow up the results of the last visit, according to a statement by Hamas spokesperson Fawzy Barhoum on Sunday.

The delegation includes Hamas’ ministers of interior, economy and finance, who are in Cairo to hold talks regarding border security, the Rafah border crossing and gas imports to the Gaza Strip.

On June 28, Hamas began construction of a buffer zone along the border between Gaza and Egypt, in an attempt to improve relations with Cairo. The buffer zone is allegedly aimed at securing Egyptian borders.

Hamas and Egypt have had a long, unstable relationship, with the latter designating the Gaza-based movement as a terrorist organization in 2013. One of the charges against the ousted Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi is spying on the state for Hamas.