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Egyptian officers in Gaza for issues hindering power handover

By Wissam Abu Zaid

GAZA, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- A team of Egyptian security officers arrived in Gaza by land on Sunday on a mission aimed at thrashing out some matters related to the ongoing efforts to achieve fundamental conciliation between the two mainstream groups, Fatah and Hamas.
Palestinian media said the Egyptian delegation was headed by Major General Sameh Nabil, from the intelligence department, and Egypt's General Consul in Ramallah Khaled Sami.
The Egyptian delegation is tasked with following up on the Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation file, according to the media reports, alluding to the October agreement between Fatah and Hamas according to which the Islamist group agreed to hand over administrative jurisdictions to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
Atef Abu Saif, spokesman of Fatah, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the mission in Gaza followed meetings between Egyptian and Hamas leaders.
He expressed hope that the visit would end up with an understanding granting "more powers to the Palestinian government and removing hurdles facing its activities in the strip." The spokesman affirmed Fatah's welcome of the Egyptian efforts to resolve all the sticking issues "and removing some of the huge barriers facing the conciliation." Asked on a simultaneous visit to the enclave by a delegation representing the Palestinian Government, he said it was part of the mission aimed at ensuring "the government practicing of its tasks." He revealed one of the emerging problems facing the government was fees' collection, warning that without these fees the administration would not be able to proceed with its tasks properly. (end) wab.rk