Hamas’s ‘foreign minister’ visits Gaza for 1st time

Hamdan says reconciliation with Fatah progressing, there are no obstacles preventing the two parties from ending their dispute.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
PA President Abbas with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Ho New)
PA President Abbas with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ho New)
Osama Hamdan, Hamas’s unofficial foreign minister, arrived in the Gaza Strip Sunday on the first visit of its kind.
Hamdan, who is based in Lebanon, is in charge of Hamas’s “external affairs department.”
He will stay in the Gaza Strip for several days.
Hamdan arrived in the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and immediately met with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Last month, Hamas leader Khaled Mashall also visited the Gaza Strip for the first time to participate in celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Islamist movement.
Upon his arrival in the Gaza Strip, Hamdan told reporters that efforts to achieve reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah were moving forward. He said that there were no obstacles preventing the two parties from ending their dispute.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Najeeb Razak will visit the Gaza Strip this week.
Najeeb will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and other officials, said an aide to the prime minister.