Hamas ready for security cooperation with Egypt
In response to the latest Egyptian accusations against Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement has called for security cooperation to end the rift.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas foreign relations official Bassem Naim said that the movement is ready for security cooperation with Egypt, especially after the Egyptian Interior Ministry accused Hamas of being involved in bombing the Security Directorate in Mansoura in the Dakahlia Governorate on Dec. 24. The blast killed 16, including 14 policemen.
“Let a Hamas delegation meet the Egyptian security apparatus and let’s put on the table all the files and evidence. We are ready to hold accountable anyone found to be involved, and we shall take full responsibility,” Naim said during a phone conversation with Al-Monitor, adding that this comes in the context of maintaining common security in Palestine and Egypt.
That call came after a rise in the frequency of Egyptian accusations toward Hamas, as reported on Jan. 7 by Al-Monitor’s Adnan Abu Amer. Egypt has formally accused Hamas of being involved in the Mansoura bombing.
Naim told Al-Monitor that so far Egypt has provided no evidence of Hamas’ involvement in meddling in Egypt’s security, except for what everyone hears in the media. He added, “There is no evidence. The Hamas members whom the media claimed were involved are either martyrs, detainees or have never left [Gaza]. Among them is Hassan Salameh, who is sentenced to several life sentences in Israeli jails.”
