Hamas confirms delivering reconciliation proposal to Egypt

Hamas leader and spokesperson, Dr. Salah al-Bardawil, has denied allegations made by Fatah Central Committee’s Azzam al-Ahmad that Hamas had not handed Egypt a paper containing mechanisms for implementing the reconciliation agreement. Al-Bardawil insisted that al-Ahmad’s statements were aimed at blocking efforts to end division. Al-Bardawil had said in statement to the press Thursday evening: “Hamas has delivered the Egyptian side a paper containing mechanisms for implementing the reconciliation agreement, and statements made by Fatah on this subject are incorrect.” He added that the Palestinian Authority and Fatah Movement have been in a state of political and media confusion, adding: “Hamas spokesmen represent the movement’s official position, and Hamas has sufficient courage and complete power to confirm or deny.” Al-Ahmad had denied that Hamas had delivered this paper to Egypt, saying that Egyptian officials had denied knowledge of any such paper. In an interview with the Voice of Palestine radio station Thursday, al-Ahmad stressed that what is required of Hamas now is to allow the Central Elections Committee to begin working in Gaza, and register voter in order to implement the articles of the reconciliation agreement and the Doha Declaration. Al-Baradawil has also said that the paper sent to Egypt is “complementary to previous reconciliation agreements made in Cairo and Doha and does not represent a new agreement. It aims only at implementation.”