Palestinian diplomat: We appreciate Sisi's keenness on national Palestinian reconciliation

CAIRO - 2 June 2020: Palestinian Ambassador in Cairo Diab al Louh has expressed appreciation of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's efforts and keenness on achieving national Palestinian reconciliation.

Louh said in televised remarks on Tuesday that president Sisi called on the high-profile Egyptian intelligence delegation, that visited Palestine and met with leaders of many factions in Gaza and representatives of the Palestinian Authority, to resume efforts aimed at ending schisms and achieving national Palestinian reconciliation.

Meetings are expected in Cairo in the coming days with Hamas delegations and delegates of other Palestinian factions, he said, adding a meeting will convenve via videoconferencing with the leadership in Ramallah and with the participation of President Mahmud Abbas according to the Palestinian diplomat. The Ramallah talks will be held under the co-sponsorship of Abbas and president Sisi, he noted.

"We are highly appreciating president Sisi's directives and his keenness on achieving national Palestinian reconciliation which is a necessary step for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, ending tension in Palestine and stopping Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people,"he said.

Louh went on to say that Egypt is a pivotal country and a cornerstone of any move in the region, adding the country is today leading all moves on all tracks.

He noted Egypt and Palestine share a strong partnership in several files, saying a location in southern Gaza has been allocated to establish a city to be named after Egypt on it.

"Egypt" city in Gaza will forward a message of solidarity to the Palestinians from Egyptians, Louh concluded.

A Palestinian ministerial delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Zeyad Abou Amr met with Egyptian Chief of General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel in Gaza Strip to examine reconstruction and will hold further talks in Cairo over mechanisms, and vision.

Palestinian Minister of Social Development Ahmed al-Magdalani made the statement Tuesday in a phone-in as the Egyptian delegation headed by Kamel concluded its visit to Gaza after conferring over stabilizing the ceasefire and embarking on reconstruction.

The Palestinian minister added that since the ceasefire began on May 21, the National Committee for Reconstruction has been determining the damages incurred by the Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip. He noted that the damage is not exclusive to buildings but extends to infrastructure and agriculture either.

Magdalani said that the committee will set priorities and present them in Cairo deliberations. For instance, sectors such as water supply, electricity, and roads will be rehabilitated first.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi directed Tuesday rapidly sending equipment necessary for reconstruction in Gaza Strip.

This comes in response to the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen], and based on the outcomes of Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS), Abbas Kamel meeting with the ministers of the Palestinian Authority.

Ministers from the Palestinian Authority are scheduled to arrive in Cairo next week to coordinate the reconstruction process per directives of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas also directed the ministers to fully cooperate with Egypt to implement Sisi's initiative to reconstruct the Strip.