A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas has left Cairo after a four-day round of talks with Egypt's intelligence chief and other officials over Egyptian support for measures aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Palestinian reconciliation. The delegation was headed by Hamas deputy political chief Saleh Al-Arouri and other group officials including Mosa Abo Marzok, Khalil Al-Hayya, Hossam Badran, Ezzat Al-Rishq and Rohi Mushtaha. The group met with Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and other intelligence officials handling the Palestinian reconciliation dossier. In a statement following their visit, Hamas said its delegation reiterated its wish to achieve reconciliation and Palestinian national unity on a basis of partnership in resistance and decision-making, adding that achieving unity includes immediately lifting sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority on Hamas. They also restated their wish for reassembling the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) through a new national unity council according to the outcomes of the meeting of Palestinian factions in Beirut in 2017, as well as a full and comprehensive execution of Cairo's 2011 agreement between the factions without any redaction or selectivity. Abo Marzok described the latest round of talks as "the most important and comprehensive in terms of topics discussed." The relationship between Hamas and rival Fatah has been witnessing political escalation. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that for reconciliation to take place, Hamas must hand over their facilities in Gaza as agreed upon in reconciliation talks, adding that "this has to be demonstrated in the upcoming period.” Fatah is calling for an execution of terms for reconciliation, which collapsed after Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah survived an assignation attempt last March as he was heading to Gaza to continue talks for reconciliation, which was reached between the two rival factions in Cairo in 2017. Hamas announced at the time that it is not responsible for the attack on the Palestinian PM. The PLO's executive committee member Azzam Al-Ahmed said that Cairo received a report last week from the PLO's Gaza Committee, which Cairo said was objective, and which Al-Ahmed asked Hamas to show same level of objectivity. According to sources in Cairo, the outcomes of the report echo Abbas' demand that Hamas hands over facilities and continue the previous agreed upon arrangements, which the sources say means there is still room for harmonisation between the two parties.
