Itongadol.- Announcement follows unconfirmed reports that the Egyptians would agree to the deployment of some 1,000 PA policemen along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
For the first time since its men seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas announced on Monday that it would not oppose the return of forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Rafah border crossing.
The announcement came as Israel and Hamas launched indirect talks in Cairo in a bid to reach an agreement over a long-term cease-fire.
The announcement also came following unconfirmed reports that the Egyptians would agree to the deployment of some 1,000 PA policemen along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Izzat al-Risheq, one of the Hamas officials to the Cairo talks, said that his movement was not opposed to the idea of placing the Rafah terminal under the control of Abbas loyalists – but only on the basis of “partnership” with the PA.
“We have notified President Abbas and the brothers in the Palestinian Authority that we are ready as of now to hand over the Rafah terminal to President Abbas,” al-Risheq said.
The Hamas official said that his movement also had no objections to Abbas and the PA overseeing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.