By Xinhua,
Gaza : Well-informed Palestinian sources said Sunday that high-ranking Egyptian security officials are mediating between President Mahmoud Abbas and Islamic Hamas movement to release each other’s prisoners.
The sources, which spoke in condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that senior Egyptian security officials are mediating between the two sides to defuse the crisis between Fatah and Hamas movements.
The Egyptians handed over Hamas movement a list of Fatah prisoners’ detained by Hamas security forces in Gaza and a list of Hamas prisoners detained in Abbas prisons in the West Bank, according to the sources.
The two lists of Fatah and Hamas prisoners were presented by Egypt to both President Abbas in the West Bank and deposed Prime Minister of Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, said the sources.
Following a Gaza bombing attack on a Hamas militants’ car in July 25 near Gaza City beach, Hamas rounded up dozens of Fatah members, and some political prisoners.
In response, Abbas security forces cracked down on Hamas movement in the West Bank and rounded up dozens of Hamas political activists, including academics and students.
The sources said that both Fatah and Hamas promised the Egyptian side that they would positively study the lists and work on closing the file of political detention in both Gaza and the West Bank.