Hamas denies involvement in murdering former Attorney General of Egypt

Hamas denied on Sunday Egyptian interior minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar's accusation of the Islamic movement for being involved in murdering former Attorney General of Egypt Hisham Barakat.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in an emailed press statement that the movement was surprised of the Egyptian official's remarks on accusing the movement for being involved in murdering Barakat, adding "it is untrue."

"The accusations don't fit with the exerted efforts to develop ties with Cairo," he said, adding "the Egyptian officials should bear more responsibility and avoid involving the Palestinian factions into Egypt's into Egypt's internal disputes."

Earlier on Sunday, Abdel Ghaffar told a news briefing in Cairo that Hamas has a big role in executing the plan of assassinating counselor Barakat in June last year, and supervised the operation from the beginning to the end.

"A series of measures will be taken against Hamas movement after its members' involvement in the murder was tested."

Local reports had said several days ago that a high-ranking delegation representing several Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad will head soon for talks in Cairo to meet with senior Egyptian officials.

The reports also said that the Palestinian delegation was scheduled to discuss a series of questions, including the crisis of the closure of Rafah crossing point on the borders between Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Ties between Hamas and Egypt got tensed after Hamas was accused for being involved in feeding terrorists in carrying out armed attacks against the Egyptian army in the Peninsula of Sinai.

Ties basically deteriorated after the ouster of Egyptian Islamic President Mohamed Morsi in early July 2013, who belongs to the Muslim brothers Movement and kept good ties with Hamas in Gaza. Endit