Palestinian leaders arrive in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials

Palestinian leaders arrive in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials

GAZA/CAIRO – Palestinian leaders, including Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and a delegation from President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for separate talks with Egyptian officials that aim to reinforce a ceasefire with Israel.

Haniyeh's visit came in response to a special invitation from Cairo, in advance of a broader meeting of Palestinian factions that could begin as early as next week, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said.

Jibril Rajoub, a senior figure from Abbas's Fatah movement, which dominates the Palestinian Authority that exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was also expected to meet Egyptian officials, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said. Abbas  himself has been invited to Egypt.