Arab League chief in Gaza in bid to end siege
After coordinating trip with Palestinian president, Amr Moussa slated to meet with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to discuss internal reconciliation, ways to lift blockade following flotilla raid
Moussa, who arrived in the Strip via Rafah crossing accompanied by Egyptian security officers, is slated to meet with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, as well as with representatives of other Palestinian organizations in the Strip.
The main issues to be discussed are the need for internal Palestinian reconciliation and ways to end the blockade on the Strip.
The Arab League chief said, "The siege on the Strip must be broken immediately, and the Palestinian organizations must reconcile at once."
At a press conference held at Rafah crossing, Moussa said the efforts for internal Palestinian reconciliation must not fail, and that the Arab League is determined to proceed and demand the blockade be lifted.
"The Palestinians deserver that the world, and not just the Arab world, stand by them in the face of the siege and in the face of what is happening in the occupied territories and Jerusalem."
Moussa said he was in Gaza to show his support of the Palestinians, "in hopes that the Palestinians do not act as pawns in the hands of one source or another."
Moussa in Gaza with heavy security (Photo: AFP)
He said he had visited Gaza before, during Yasser Arafat's rule.
Moussa was welcomed by Hamas Interior Minister Bassem Naim, Fatah Central Committee member Zakaria al-Agha and other parliament members.
'Arab recognition of Hamas'
While the visit was coordinated in advance with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas elements consider the vist official Arab recognition of their control over the Strip.
The movement has gone to great lengths to ensure that the visit is a success and leads to cooperation with the Arab League.
However, sources in the Strip are still skeptical that Moussa's visit will help lift the siege, and are hanging most of their hopes on international pressure, and in particular, pressure from the United States and Europe.
After the crossing between Gaza and Sinai has been closed for three years, save for isolated incidents, Egypt formally announced last week that the crossing, which was opened at the start of the month following the takeover of the Gaza aid sail, is to remain open indefinitely.
On Tuesday, nine Egyptian parliament members crossed Rafah crossing into Gaza. Two of them, Mohammed al-Baltaji and Hazem Farouq, took part in the sail to Gaza.
The delegation visited the Strip in a show of "identification with Gaza's residents". The members met with Hamas officials, including some of the movement's parliament members.
