RAMALLAH, West Bank — The delegations of Palestinian factions, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine returned to the Gaza Strip the evening of Aug. 19 from Cairo, where they held several meetings together and with Egyptian intelligence. Discussions focused on a long-term truce with Israel and on Palestinian internal reconciliation.
The delegations suspended their talks as the Rafah border crossing linking Egypt to the besieged Gaza Strip will be closed for six days for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday until Aug. 26. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Russian news agency Sputnik on Aug. 19 that meetings and talks will resume after the holiday with the participation of the Fatah movement.
