Separate talks kicked off in Cairo on Tuesday between Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials with Egyptian officials aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire agreement reached with Israel.
An informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks will last several days and begin first with bilateral discussions between each of the Palestinian factions with the Egyptian officials. They may later expand to become tripartite talks.
On whether the talks will tackle Palestinian elections, the source said this issue was not on the table.
The discussions will primarily focus on reinforcing the truce with Israel, it added.
Asked about the travel itinerary of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh after the conclusion of his Egypt visit, the source said: “Unofficial Egyptian sources said that he may head to Qatar, Russia and Turkey.”
Hamas had on Monday announced that Haniyeh would hold talks with Egyptian officials about several pending Palestinian issues.
Movement officials refused to reply to Asharq Al-Awsat requests to confirm his trips beyond Egypt.
Prior to arriving in Egypt, Hamas was embroiled with the Palestinian Authority in a new dispute, this time over the legality of the movement striking deals with the US to set up a field hospital in Gaza.
PA officials had charged that such a deal was part of the so-called “deal of the century” US peace proposal that has been rejected by Palestinians.
“It will be an American-Israeli military base put forward on the land of Gaza Strip,” said Mai Alkaila, the PA’s health minister.
