Hamas engages Egypt to seek lift of Gaza closure

It will be the first meeting between the Hamas official and the Egyptian president.
A Hamas official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Haneya was expecxted to bring up a plan to settle several crises that were aggravated when former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak cooperated with Israel in shutting Gaza crossings after Hamas took over the territory in 2007.
The issues Haneya wants to discuss and hopes to resolve include electricity, fuel, underground smuggling and the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip, according to the official.
The ministers of foreign affairs, economy and housing of the Hamas authority and some lawmakers will accompany Haneya as part of a 18-person delegation. The visit will last for four days.
The official said Haneya will seek a full opening of Rafah crossing point on Gaza-Egypt border, the only gate for Gaza travelers that bypasses Israel. Hamas also hopes to establish a free trade zone between Gaza and Egypt. When the blockade was imposed, Hamas depended on a network of tunnels under Gaza’s southern border with Egypt to bring in all goods, food and fuel. The demand for the tunnels has decreased as Israel has been taking steps to ease Gaza blockade since 2010. — Xinhua.