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Hamas leader to visit Cairo over prisoners – Egypt | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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CAIRO,(Reuters) – Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Cairo for talks on an exchange of prisoners between Israel and the Palestinians, a senior Egyptian official said on Sunday.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad told a news conference that during the visit Egypt would also press its attempt to bring about agreement on a Palestinian government of national unity between Hamas and Fatah.

“Mr Meshaal has an invitation to come to Cairo … The visit will tackle the issue of the prisoner exchange and the situation in the Palestinian and Israeli arena,” Awad said. He did not say when the visit would take place.

The remarks by Awad added to speculation that Israel and thePalestinians could be close to a deal on prisoners.

Palestinian militants from Gaza captured an Israeli soldier on June 25 and have offered to release him in return for many hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.