Hamas calls for security protocol with Egypt on border
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E-mail Xinhua, August 11, 2012
Hamas calls for security protocol with Egypt on border
GAZA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- An Islamic Hamas movement leader on Saturday called for a security protocol with Egypt to fulfill security cooperation and coordination to control the border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Salah al-Bardaweel said in an interview with Xinhua that "The bilateral contacts between Hamas movement and the Egyptian authorities can't be called security coordination," adding that ties between the two sides "are limited in terms of data."
The complicated political situation and internal Palestinian split "are blocking any development of security ties between Hamas and Egypt," the Hamas official said, calling on the two sides to reach a protocol of security cooperation aimed at controlling the border area.
"Hamas is ready to cooperate with Egypt to reveal the mystery of crime," said al-Bardaweel, noting, however, "we are not an apparatus of intelligence for Egypt or any other country."
On Sunday, unknown radical militants attacked an Egyptian security checkpoint in Sinai, leaving 16 Egyptian soldiers killed and seven others wounded. Initial reports said that some of the attackers had either come from Gaza or infiltrated into the Gaza Strip through smuggling tunnels between the enclave and Egypt.
"The Egyptian side until now hasn't officially revealed any information saying that people in Gaza involved in the attack," al- Bardaweel said, adding that "it is a big lie spread by the Israeli intelligence that radical Islamists from Gaza carried out the attack."
Right after the attack in Sinai, Hamas immediately condemned the attack and carried out a series of security measures along the borderline with Egypt.
It is obvious to everyone that the Israeli Mossad is standing behind the attack in Sinai, al-Bardaweel said, adding that "it used the attack to carry out a furious media campaign that holds Hamas and the Gaza Strip responsible for the attack."
Palestinian observers said that the attack in Sinai had weakened ties between Hamas and Egypt. Right after the attack, Egypt closed down Rafah crossing as well as all the smuggling tunnels, which were considered by Gazans as signs of tightened siege.
"I'm certain that Hamas movement and the Gaza Strip would be stronger than before once the criminal behind the attack is unveiled," al-Bardaweel said, calling on Egypt to develop ties with Hamas and open border crossings for commercial and individual movement. Enditem
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