Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who's kept a low profile since last month's twin suicide bombing in southern Israel, made a surprise visit to Egypt on Sunday, holding talks with Egypt's intelligence chief about an anticipated Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
| He's kept a low profile for purposes of self-preservation... |
Mashaal has remained largely out of sight since Israel threatened to target Palestinian militant leaders after the Aug. 31 suicide bombings in Beersheba, Israel, that killed 16 Israelis. Hamas claimed responsibility on Sept. 2, the last day Mashaal appeared in public.
| Y'don't think the two were connected, do ya? |
Egypt has been trying without success for more than a year to arrange a dialogue among Palestinian factions to explore calling a ceasefire in attacks against Israel alongside the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. But Mohammed Nazal, a Syria-based Hamas official accompanying Mashaal, denied the Hamas visit would include discussions about a cease-fire. "This visit has nothing to do with the dialogue issue," Nazal told The Associated Press, adding that the trip would last a few days. "This visit is to discuss the issue and the consequences of the Zionist withdrawal from Gaza Strip." |