GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abdel Khalek, the Egyptian intelligence officer in charge of his government's Palestinian portfolio, made his first visit to Gaza, arriving Nov. 15, and while there he attended a Nov. 16 funeral procession organized by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, to mourn recently slain fighters. Seven Hamas members, including Nour Baraka, a brigade leader, were killed Nov. 11 in southern Gaza, in clashes with Israeli special forces who infiltrated east of Khan Yunis. 

Upon arriving at the Hamas event, Abdel Khalek shook the hands of the movement's political and military leaders, among them Yahya al-Sinwar, who leads the group in Gaza. He then kissed the hands of the children of the deceased. Having paid his respects, the Egyptian then left. His brief appearance at a Hamas event was an unprecedented gesture by an Egyptian official, leading many to speculate about the reasons behind it.

After two days of violence, Nov. 11-13, Egypt had successfully brokered a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, bringing a quick end to the fiercest military confrontation between them since their 2014 war.

An official for the Egyptian General Intelligence Services who spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, said, “Abdel Khalek’s participation in the funeral was not pre-planned, but he decided to take this step within the framework of Egyptian reactions protesting Israel’s recent aggression against Gaza. Egypt believes Israel provoked the recent escalation.”