By Xinhua
Gaza : Islamic Jihad movement on Thursday urged Hamas and Fatah movement benefit from both being in Cairo and start a reconciliation dialogue.
“We must get out from the internal infighting and its results,” said Naffez Azzam, an Islamic Jihad leader, during a demonstration in front of the sealed-off Rafah crossing point in southern Gaza Strip.
“Today, we have a chance that must be taken to restore our unity and get out from this crisis… Through Rafah crossing, we should go to Egypt for a serious dialogue,” Azzam added.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and exiled Hamas’ chief Khaled Mashaal arrived in Cairo Wednesday to hold separate talks with the Egyptian leadership on reopening the crossing point which has been closed since Hamas took over Gaza Strip by force in June 2007.
Abbas wants the crossing to work under his control with the presence of EU monitors according to a 2005 international deal. Hamas, which routed pro-Abbas forces, wants the crossing without third party monitors.
The Islamic Jihad said that the 2005 deal must be revised “because it had its own circumstances at the time,” Azzam said, referring to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip.
“Israel was controlling the crossing and extorting the Palestinians though it… Since Gaza is liberated, there must be no Zionist influence on the terminal,” Azzam continued.