Israel has refused to allow three Hamas leaders to leave the West Bank for Egypt to attend reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions in Cairo, a Hamas leader said.
“Egyptian efforts have failed to persuade Israel to allow the three leaders from the West Bank to join the Hamas delegation in the talks,” Hassan Yousef told Anadolu Agency on Monday.
Israel controls all crossings in the occupied West Bank.
Egypt seeks Israel's permission for Hamas West Bank leaders to #travel to Cairo https://t.co/ojnTrGwt4A #usa #vacation pic.twitter.com/xEYFj4KeY5
— Car Rental USA (@CarRentalUSA1) October 9, 2017
Yousef had told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that three Hamas leaders from the West Bank might attend the new round of reconciliation talks in Cairo.
He, however, declined to unveil the names of the leaders, citing security reasons.
Delegates from Hamas and rival group Fatah are due to meet in Cairo on Tuesday as part of Egyptian efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation and allow the West Bank-based unity government to assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas’s capture of Gaza in 2007 ended an earlier — if short-lived — unity government that was established after Hamas swept 2006 Palestinian legislative polls.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
