Hamas has said it is eager to maintain good relations with the Egyptian government as the Palestinian militant group’s relations with Saudi Arabia begins to show signs of improvement.
“We are keen on good relations with Egypt, our neighbor and older sister,” Hamas’s politburo chief, Khaled Meshaal, told London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. He said his recent visit to Saudi Arabia had also managed to resolve a set of political differences.
Hamas, widely seen as an offshoot of Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, has repeatedly rebuffed Egypt’s accusations of involvement in terrorist operations in the Sinai peninsula. Several Hamas members are standing trial in absentia over terrorism and espionage charges that also involve Brotherhood leaders.
Egyptian courts have witnessed several lawsuits issued by Egyptians demanding Hamas be branded a terrorist group.
Meshaal's remarks come a few days after the movement said Egypt was fully responsible for the safety of four Palestinians who were mysteriously kidnapped in Sinai on Wednesday.
