GAZA/CAIRO: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for the first in a series of talks this week between Egyptian authorities and Palestinian factions that aims to reinforce a cease-fire with Israel, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said.
Haniyeh’s visit came in response to a special invitation from Cairo, in advance of a broader meeting of Palestinian factions that could begin as early as next week, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Reuters.
Egypt has played a major role in the brokering of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group which rules Gaza, after 11 days of conflict erupted on May 10.
More than 250 Palestinians were killed in hundreds of Israeli air strikes on Gaza during that conflict. Rockets fired by Gaza militants killed 13 people in Israel.
Haniyeh and Egyptian officials will discuss cementing the truce with Israel as well as reconstruction plans for Gaza, Qassem said. Egypt has said it will allocate $500 million for the reconstruction.
Egyptian authorities hope to meet members of Hamas’ rival Fatah, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Egyptian sources said. Fatah controls the West Bank.
Egypt has tried in the past to foster cooperation between Palestinian factions that is seen as crucial to any wider efforts to promote peace in the region.
A delegation from Fatah led by Jibril Rajoub is expected in Cairo in the coming days, a Palestinian official said.
Hamas chief in Egypt for talks ahead of planned meeting of Palestinian factions
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Hamas chief in Egypt for talks ahead of planned meeting of Palestinian factions
Albanian president tours Petra as cooperation with Jordan strengthens
- President Bajram Begaj praised Jordan for promoting security and stability in the region
LONDON: Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and Albanian President Bajram Begaj discussed ways to expand cooperation in the health, education, information technology, and tourism sectors.
Begaj praised Jordan for promoting security and stability in the region during the meeting with Hassan in Amman on Monday. Both parties emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to prevent escalation in the region and to support peace and stability initiatives, according to the Petra news agency.
The president visited the ancient city of Petra on Monday as part of an official visit to Jordan, accompanied by Albania’s first lady, Armanda Begaj. They toured key landmarks in the city, including the siq and the treasury. They also met with Adnan Sawaier, chief commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and Yazan Mahadin, commissioner for the Reserve and Tourism.
The visit aims to strengthen Jordanian-Albanian ties and highlight the role of cultural tourism in promoting dialogue and the ancient city’s global tourism status, the Petra news agency added.
