BICOM

The new Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, praised Egypt and criticised the Palestinian Authority (PA) in his first public speech.

Ismail Haniyeh said: “I declare clearly that we have turned a new page in our relationship with Egypt.”

His speech follows recent talks between Egypt and Hamas to take measures to relieve the ongoing crisis between Hamas and the PA over the electricity supply to Gaza.

Speaking about Palestinian unity, Haniyeh said: “Fatah won’t eliminate Hamas and Hamas won’t eliminate Fatah….the occupier could be eliminated.”

He continued: “We believe that the most dangerous thing official Palestinian policy suffers from is responding to and dealing with repeated American dictates.”

Haniyeh also used the opportunity to restate political goals, and said that Hamas would “remain faithful to the principles of the Palestinian people,” citing commitments to the “liberation of the land, of Jerusalem, of the al-Aqsa Mosque, the prisoners” and to realising the Palestinian right of return.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas is due to travel to Cairo this weekend to meet with Egyptian President al-Sisi for urgent talks.

The PA’s Ambassador to Egypt said the two leaders will discuss “the Palestinian issue in all of its aspects,” including “the dangerous escalation” in settlements in East Jerusalem and the rest of the Palestinian territories,” as well as  current conditions in the Middle East generally.

In addition, the PA announced that it “sent into early retirement” 6,145 employees in Gaza, declaring the move part of its strategy to force Hamas to cede control of the Strip.