Hamas denies asking for Saudi mediation with Egypt

Hamas has dismissed media reports alleging that the Islamist movement requested Saudi mediation with Egypt, stressing that communication channels between Hamas and Egyptian officials are “smooth, have not been cut off, and do not need any mediation.”

An official Hamas source told Quds Press that there is existing communication between Hamas and Egypt, and that the two sides agreed to open the Rafah border crossing for several days before Eid ul-Fitr. The source says he hoped that communication and mutual coordination will continue to help offset any problems that may occur.

“As for the talk that Hamas had asked for Saudi mediation to improve its relationship with Egypt, this talk is unfounded,” he added.

The Egyptian authorities have allowed Hamas leader Dr Moussa Abu Marzouk to enter and exit to and from the Gaza Strip without disruptions.

The Egyptian newspaper Al-Bawaba previously alleged that Cairo told Saudi Arabia that it rejected any discussions about rapprochement with Hamas, against the backdrop of the recent visit made by Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal to Riyadh.

Al-Bawaba noted that, during his recent visit to Cairo, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir raised with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi the idea that Egyptian officials would meet with the leaders of Hamas in Riyadh, but Egypt rejected the Saudi suggestion.