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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Muzaini: Return of Egyptian security delegation to Gaza a matter of time |
| 2007-09-05 |
| (PIC)-- Senior Hamas political leader Dr. Osama Al-Muzaini has affirmed Monday that his Movement has no knowledge at all on the alleged Egyptian rejection to resume mediation on prisoner swap deal between Hamas and the Israeli occupation government. In the past, the Israeli occupation government had aborted several Egyptian efforts to conclude a swap deal with Hamas Movement in order to secure the safe release of IOF serviceman Gilad Shalit in return for freeing Palestinian children and women captives in Israeli jails. "In fact, what we know is that the Israeli occupation government was persistently urging Egypt to resume that role again although Egypt was apparently fed up with the Israeli stubbornness that jeopardized their efforts in the past", affirmed Muzaini in press statement he made Monday. In addition, the Hamas's political leader unveiled that the information his Movement has is that the return of the Egyptian security delegation to Gaza Strip was a matter of time only. The delegation had left the tiny Strip in the peak of the armed clashes between Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and elements of the mutiny trend in the PA security apparatuses that ended with Hamas's victory and subsequent control of the Strip last June. "I donÂ’t think they (the Egyptians) will block the return of their security delegation as Hamas's leadership was and still is engaging in continuous contacts with the Egyptian officials over the matter in addition to a number of matters of mutual concern", Muzaini underlined. He also denied that Hamas would choose an alternative mediator in case Egypt indeed refused to mediate again, saying that "Hamas wasnÂ’t in hurry to conclude a swap deal", and that the Movement could keep the captured Shalit for long time. The Hebrew Haaretz newspaper revealed Sunday that the Egyptian government had turned down an Israeli request to resume the mediation with Hamas over Shalit's freedom. The paper also alleged that the refusal was out of Egypt's fears that any mediation and possible release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, in case the swap deal succeeded, will be a credit for Hamas, and would add to its already wide popular base and support in the Palestinian arena. Shalit was captured from inside his tank in June last year in a qualitative military operation carried out by three armed wings of the Palestinian resistance factions, including that of Hamas. Since then, the IOF corporal was kept in Palestinian captivity as his captors offered the Israeli occupation government the safe release of its soldier in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails, which many observers affirmed it was humanistic condition. Israel rejected the offer so far. |
| Posted by:Fred |