A verbal confrontation broke out Sunday between Hamas and an Egyptian government officials, after Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said his country would prefer a Palestinian government without Hamas in it, since the organization will hinder the Palestinian Authority's peace efforts. Hamas was reportedly infuriated by the remark, as Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Gheit's comments were unacceptable and counterproductive to the efforts made to restore Palestinian unity. The public altercation took place while Hamas officials Mahmoud al-Zahar and Said Siam were holding various meetings in Cairo, regarding – among other matters – the negotiations to free IDF captive Gilad Shalit, lull effort with Israel and the internal Palestinian conflict. Gheit said Saturday that the lull talks were ongoing, adding they included a gradual ceasefire, to the point that all violence – including rocket fire on Hamas' part and targeted assassinations on Israel's part – would come to a halt.
Hamas spokesman Zuhri rejected Egypt's idea to hold a referendum regarding a peace treaty with Israel: "We are against this idea. You cannot hold any referendum regarding the Palestinian people's basic rights. (We) cannot hold a referendum about the future of al-Quds (Jerusalem) if its results might affect our rights in the city." Hamas further said they will not stand for anyone interfering in the organization's decisions, explaining Hamas already has the majority of the seats in the Palestinian parliament.
A senior Hamas official told Ynet that the group assumed the comments were an attempt by Gheit to test Hamas' position in the matter, adding that he is known for being "the bad guy" in the Egyptian government's dealings with Hamas. "The majority of our dealings are with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suliman and we hope he is being kept up to date," added the source. Gheit's attitude was found to be puzzling, said the source, especially since the subject of forming a new Palestinian government has yet to come up.