Hamas confirmed on Saturday it had refused to meet with Fatah representatives due to unresolved questions surrounding political prisoners, forcing the delay of Egyptian-sponsored Palestinian reconciliation talks next week.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum accused the Fatah movement of refusing to free Hamas activists detained in the West Bank. "Dialogue is not meaningful without resolving the question of all our people arrested in the West Bank. It is necessary to release them first and only then to speak about the participation of Hamas in talks," Barhoum conveyed.
Despite the cancellation of the Cairo meeting, Egypt said on Saturday it would continue efforts to bring the Palestinian groups together. "Egypt will continue discussions with all parties to set a new date for inter-Palestinian talks," an Egyptian representative was quoted as saying by MENA news agency.
