Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Ali Baraka, confirmed that Cairo has extended an invitation to their movement's political bureau chief, Khaled Meshaal, and the Secretary General of Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Abdallah Shalah, to visit Egypt as part of efforts to end Palestinian division and achieve reconciliation among the factions.
 
Baraka told Quds Press that the escalation of Israeli aggression "requires urgent reconciliation, as a matter of national priority." He said that Hamas has started taking necessary steps in preparation for the reconciliation since Prime Minister Ismail Haniyyeh invited President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Gaza.

He added that Egypt has expressed its agreement and support for Hamas' initiative during Hamas member, Mahmoud Zahhar's, recent visit to Egypt. According to Baraka, Fatah's leader, Mahmoud Abbas, along with the leaders of a number of other Palestinian factions also visited Egypt for the same purposes.
 
Baraka stressed that in the coming few days, Hamas' political bureau chief, Khaled Meshaal, and the Secretary General of Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Abdallah Shalah, would visit Egypt to engage in discussions. He mentioned that Egypt is busy with its internal affairs, but that it also welcomes the Palestinian factions.
 
Regarding the recent assertions that there are differences in Hamas' positions in Gaza and the West Bank - especially after Abbas' meeting with Hamas members of parliament - Baraka stated that this is "an old symphony that Fatah is relying on. But Hamas' position is unified, and is supportive of the reconciliation that is considered to be binding for all the movement's members everywhere."