Senior Hamas leader Mousa Abu-Marzouk has arrived in the Gaza Strip from his home in Egypt to take part in reconciliation talks with rival movement Fatah. Hamas described Egypt’s facilitation of the visit as a “positive sign”.
Yousef Rizqa, a political aide to the Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said that Abu-Marzouk is the first senior Hamas leader to enter Gaza since June 30 last year. “However, Abu-Marzouk will not stay in the Gaza Strip,” said Rizqa. “He will only take part in the talks.”
The Egyptian authorities had refused to renew Abu-Marzouk’s residence visa but Rizqa noted that permission for him to live in Cairo has been given.
Abu-Marzouk is the only senior Hamas official to stay in Egypt after the military coup against elected President Mohamed Morsi last July and the ban imposed on the Islamic Resistance Movement two months ago.
MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad
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