The relationship between Egypt and the Hamas party in Gaza might be thawing a bit, though no one seems to be interpreting Cairo's recent steps toward reconciliation as altruistic.

“It is safe to say that the gradual rapprochement between Hamas and Egypt is an Egyptian act of defiance, aimed at pressuring Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas into responding to Egyptian demands that Abbas reconcile with his arch rival [dismissed Fatah leader] Mohammed Dahlan and get him ready to succeed him," Raed Enairat, a political science professor at An-Najah National University in Nablus and the head of the Contemporary Center for Studies and Policy Analysis, told Al-Monitor.

"The coming period will prove whether the Hamas-Egypt convergence is tactical or strategic, as it is linked to the extent to which their mutual interests will be achieved. These consist of permanently opening the Rafah crossing and preserving the Sinai security from the Gazan side. Yet it is clear that the godfather of this rapprochement between Hamas and Egypt is Dahlan, who wants to be accepted by both sides,” Enairat said.

Hamas seems well-aware that Egypt's gestures actually arise from Cairo’s desire to win battles on two fronts, namely against Hamas and Abbas. Cairo may be seeking, at least at the current stage, to neutralize Hamas until Cairo settles its confrontation with Abbas in favor of Dahlan.