Egypt may find Gaza more appealing without Haniyeh

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Ahmed Fouad February 25, 2020

Article Summary
Although tensions between the Egyptian authorities and Hamas were expected to escalate amid reports that Egypt had banned Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh from returning to Egypt and subsequently to Gaza, Egyptian analysts expect relations to be more relaxed in Haniyeh’s absence.

CAIRO — News about Egypt banning Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, from returning to Cairo following his foreign tour was expected to stir a crisis between the Egyptian authorities and Hamas. However, a security delegation from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service completed its visit Feb. 12 to the Gaza Strip peacefully after meeting with Hamas leaders.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in press statements that day that the Egyptian delegation met with Hamas chief in Gaza Yahya Sinwar and his deputy, Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya.

Qassem noted that the meetings focused on “strengthening relations between the two sides, the Egyptian role to ease the Israeli siege on Gaza and the reconciliation between Palestinian factions,” particularly Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Fatah in the West Bank.

As for Haniyeh, Hamas sources confirmed in a Feb. 2 press statement that he would continue to run the movement’s political bureau, but would do so from Doha, so he can freely conduct his foreign trips, which are expected to continue until the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.

Content retrieved from: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/02/egypt-ban-hamas-haniyeh-return-gaza-iran-qatar.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter.

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