Egyptian diplomats describe Hamas document as ploy

Wednesday 03-05-2017 - 05:56 PM

Bishoy Ramzy

Members of Hamas in Gaza watch a televised press conference by the movement’s leader Khaled Meshaal, who is in Doha, Qatar, outlining a new political document, 1 May. Mohammed Asad

Cairo - Egyptian diplomats expressed their skepticism over the document announced by Hamas's leader Khaled Mashaal, describing it as a new political trick in which the Palestinian movement is attempting to maintain its presence in case of any potential decision to list the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

However, others stressed that the document contains contradiction, as the movement stresses its intellectual dependency on the ideologies adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Galal Al Rashidi

Former Assistant Foreign Minister Galal Al Rashidi said that the document aims to raise a state of political division amid fears over the repercussions of the meeting scheduled to be held between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S President Donald Trump.

He added that the document proves the movement’s affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood, raising questions over the possibility of any decision taken by the movement to join the Palestinian Liberation Organization in Jordan. He added, “It is not sure, as the movement still attempts to realize the international position towards it.”

He added that the document reflects the movement’s desire to participate in the international plan in light of the continuous Palestinian division and the movement’s refusal to recognize Israel.

retired Egyptian Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan (middle)

On the other hand, retired Egyptian Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan said that Hamas should have political vision, saying that the Egyptian government should adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the movement and not push them towards creating a Muslim alliance with the Brotherhood.

He added that the Egyptian authorities should not link between Hamas and Gaza’s Muslim Brotherhood on one hand, and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on the other hand if they are committed to the principles of good neighborliness.He called upon the Egyptian authorities to use the document to achieve the interests of both Egypt and the Palestinian issue, saying that the document should be supported as soon as possible to calm the atmosphere and the state of war.