Hamas political bureau to convene in Egypt

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The new political bureau of Palestinian resistance group Hamas will convene in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, a Hamas official said.

“The meeting will be the first of the political bureau following the end of the group’s recent internal elections,” the official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

According to the official, Hamas leaders are expected to arrive in Cairo from Gaza, Qatar and Turkey for the meeting.

“The meeting will be attended by 19 members of Hamas’ political bureau,” he said.

Hamas held internal elections for its leadership in Gaza, the West Bank and abroad in the period between February and July.

The Hamas official said a delegation from the group led by Yahya Sinwar, Hamas chief in Gaza, will leave Gaza for Egypt on Sunday to attend the meeting and hold talks with Egyptian intelligence officials.

Sunday’s meeting is expected to discuss a host of internal issues and Palestinian developments, the Hamas official said.

He said Hamas leaders will also meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamal on Monday to discuss a number of issues as well as the situation in the Gaza Strip.

There was no comment from either Hamas or the Egyptian authorities on the report.

On Saturday, Hamas said that its political chief Ismail Haniyeh has been invited by Egyptian authorities to visit Cairo for talks on Palestinian developments.

Observers believe that the talks will focus on the consolidation of a cease-fire with Israel, a prisoner swap and Gaza's humanitarian conditions in the light of Israel's continued blockade on Gaza since 2007.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara