Ramallah- Hamas delegation – led by Yahya Sinwar, Hamad leader in Gaza, – returned to Gaza from Cairo on Monday after a one-week visit that witnessed discussions with security Egyptian officials.

Hamas delegation arrived at Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza after a series of security agreements – a Hamas source said that the “delegation was highly appreciated and received high-level Egyptian hospitality. All mutual topics were discussed seriously and thoroughly with the Egyptians.”

The source added that the dialogue took place between Hamas delegation and Cairo without a third party, pointing out that Cairo showed its keenness to bring the Palestinian cause back to the front. “Hamas delegation talked in Cairo about the Palestinians’ agony and namely Gaza residents. The Egyptian party promised to exert monumental efforts to find solutions for the discussed topics,” he added.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation has agreed with the Egyptian officials on expanding cooperation, developing ties and carrying on meetings — discussions mainly focused on the security field and had no political dimensions at all.

Hamas has shown willingness to cooperate and deploy more soldiers on the border as well as to stop the smuggling from and to Sinai. For its part, Egypt promised to enhance the condition at Rafah crossing but linked this to security developments.

This is not the first meeting of its kind since Egyptian intelligence officials met previously with Hamas officials several times since March 2016 and asked them to detach themselves from the Brotherhood, control the border, prosecute Salafists, prevent their movement from and to Sinai, cooperate on any information related to the Egyptian national security and stop the smuggling of weapons through Sinai.