(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Hamas delegation headed by Khalid Meshaal, chief of the movement's politburo, met on Tuesday minister Raafat Shehata, Egyptian intelligence chief, at the intelligence headquarters in Cairo, to discuss the latest developments on the Palestinian arena, especially reconciliation file.

A source from Hamas delegation told PIC that the movement's leaders stressed on the need to close the file of the siege on the Gaza Strip.

He said that the movement helped the Egyptian authorities during the past few weeks in the closure of the tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, stressing that Egypt should bear the responsibility of ending the siege, because closing the tunnels and the crossings under the siege will lead to a catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The source added that the Egyptian side understands the suffering of the Strip under the siege, but at the same time it cannot open the crossings before the armed forces end all their operations in Sinai.

Member of Hamas politburo, Ezzat Rishq, said, in a press statement after the meeting, that the delegation discussed with the Egyptian leaders the situation in the Palestinian arena and ways to unify Palestinian ranks as well as to provide the necessary facilities for the movement of Palestinians from and to the Gaza Strip.

Rishq added that the movement was eager that the delegation comprises Hamas leaders from home and exile, pointing out that other meetings will be arranged between the delegation and the Egyptian officials to complete the talks.

The delegation comprises Khalid Meshaal, Musa Abu Marzouq, Ezzat al-Resheq, Sami Khater, Mahmoud al-Zahhar, Muhammad Naser, Khalil al-Hayya, Saleh al-Arouri and Nizar Awadallah.

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