A Hamas delegation met with Egyptian authorities in Cairo, on Egypt’s request to resume talks and discussions on various issues related to a long-lasting cease-fire with Israel and an arrangement aimed at realizing Palestinian reconciliation between the Islamist groups in Gaza and their rival Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank. In a press release, Hamas confirmed to TV7 that it continues to pursue a possible reconciliation agreement with the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. That said, Hamas claimed that Fatah insists on making unilateral decisions and isolating the other Palestinian factions, which make it increasingly hard on realizing a viable solution. That said, a Hamas leader stressed that alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza is an urgent and national task, noting that there are efforts exerted at the political and field levels to re-enforce the 2014 ceasefire understandings with Israel, on the basis of complete partnership with all segments of the Palestinian people. In response to TV7’s request for comment, a senior Israeli political official emphasized that Jerusalem adheres to one simple fact that was made clear by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman: “quiet will be met with quiet, and violence will be met with a decisive response.” The official further warned that “unless the terror group Hamas stops their violent actions against Israel, they will bear the full consequences for their atrocious actions.”
