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Hamas team in Egypt for talks on reopening Rafah, prisoner swap |
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09:04, July 09, 2008 |
A Hamas delegation from the Palestinian territory of Gaza Strip arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for talks with Egyptian mediators on the reopening of the Rafah crossing and a prisoner swap deal with Israel.
The Hamas team entered Egypt earlier in the day via the Rafah crossing at the Egypt-Gaza border, the Egyptian state MENA news agency said.
The eight-member delegation comprises Hamas' former Interior Minister Said Siam and Hamas official Jamal Abu Hashem in addition to Hamas leader Mahmuod Zahar.
The Hamas team from Gaza is reportedly to join up with a delegation of the movement from Syria that is expected to arrive later in the day for talks with Egyptian mediators.
Before leaving for Cairo, Zahar said "The delegation will discuss the calm issue according to the deal which stipulated a lull and a full lifting of the siege and opening the crossing points into Gaza."
The delegation will also discuss the issue of Israeli captive soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Palestinian militants for two years. Hamas demands to swap him for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect on June 19 in Gaza. However, Israel closed the crossing points five times since the ceasefire took effect in response to rocket attacks by some Palestinian factions.
Source:Xinhua
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