HANIYEH: OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EGYPT IS STRATEGIC

Gaza City, 19 Muharram 1434/23 November 2013 (MINA) – Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian prime minister in the Gaza Strip, said that the relationship with the Arab Republic of Egypt is strategic, pointing out that there is a mutual reproach, “but it will not turn into a break”.

Haniyeh thanked during a meeting with the delegation of Miles of Smiles 23, which reached the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Egypt on allowing the convoy into the Palestinian lands, that carries with it the meaning of love and loyalty,Alresalah.ps quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“We do not dispense any Arab country; Egypt is above all,” said Haniyeh, pointing that his government is on almost daily contact with Egyptian intelligence services to discuss the opening of the Rafah crossing, to alleviate the suffering of the population of the Gaza Strip, and to observe the violations of the Israeli occupation.

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Essam Youssef , the convoy coordinator, said that the Egyptian authorities promised to facilitate the movement of the coming convoys to the Gaza Strip, since new mechanism will be adopted in terms of working. He indicated that the contacts continued over several months to coordinate the entry of this convoy.

Yusuf said that the solidarity convoys into Gaza will continue to come from all over the world, even if the siege is lifted, pointing out that Palestine and its cause are everyone’s responsibility.

“We will do all legitimate means to support Gaza and to support the break of the siege ,” said Youssef, explaining that his assistants think of reaching Gaza by sea.

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Youssef confirmed that he called the PA’s President Mahmoud Abbas to work hard in order to lift the siege on Gaza and facilitate the movement of fuel to Gaza.

Break The Siege

Miles of Smiles Convoy 23 arrived Thursday in the besieged Gaza Strip, with solidarity activists from around the world, including some from Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Britain, Sweden and Malaysia.

Partners for Peace & Development for Palestinians (PPDP) said in a media statement that the latest Miles of Smiles convoy which is not only showing solidarity with the people of Gaza but also trying to break the siege.

The organization pointed out that the leadership of Miles of Smiles has been consulting the authorities in Egypt to discuss the possibilities and mechanisms for supporting aid convoys to Gaza and to find alternatives to the tunnels, the once key provider of basic needs to the 1.8 million population in the coastal enclave.

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The convoy leaders found the Egyptian authorities to be receptive,” said PPDP, “which resulted in a consignment of canned meat and medical supplies being allowed through the Rafah Crossing earlier this week, as well as ambulances, disability transport and cleansing vehicles.”

The Miles of Smiles leadership urged everyone not to step back from supporting their brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip because of the political events in Egypt. “Egypt will take good steps early next month towards facilitating the passage of aid convoys to the Gaza Strip,” the convoy leader insisted. (T/P02/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)