Hamas in Cairo talks hoping for new phase in bilateral ties

High-ranking Islamic Hamas movement officials held a second round of meetings with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo Sunday, in order to ease existing tensions between the two.

Ties between Hamas and Egypt became tense following the removal of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi from power in 2013.

A Hamas official in Gaza told Xinhua that Hamas's delegation arrived in Cairo Saturday and effectively started its first round of meetings.

Hamas said in a statement Saturday that it looks forward to "a new phase in its relationship with Cairo."

The statement said that the talks focused on "bilateral relations and the burdens Gaza faces, particularly the border crossings, as well as the latest developments."

The statement also stressed that Hamas "is keen on Egypt's security and stability and maintaining positive relations with Cairo."

The source added that Hamas was invited by Egyptian security officials before Egypt's interior minister accused Hamas last Sunday of complicity in former Egyptian Attorney General Hisham Barakat's assassination.

Hamas, however, denied the accusations.

Hamas decided it will take this opportunity in Cairo to ensure all accusations towards it interfering in Egyptian affairs are denied and falsified, said the source.

Hamas hopes to additionally reach an understanding regarding the Rafah border crossing crisis, which is almost completely closed off by Egypt.

Egypt mediated ceasefire talks in 2014 between Israel and Gaza Strip factions, and arbitrated a prisoners' release deal between Palestinians and Israelis in 2011. Endite