Egypt reconciliation efforts stretch for Hamas, Fatah harmony

CAIRO, June 11 (UPI) -- Egypt's apparent reconciliation with Palestinian authorities has stretched into an attempt to bring together the disputing Hamas and Fatah organizations.

Cairo is attempting to improve the relationship between Hamas and Fatah, which have engaged in violent conflict before. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip away from the Palestinian Authority government in 2007, but the groups signed a unity government agreement in 2014.

"Our efforts are ongoing and continuous despite events in the region," Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Atty said. "As far as we are concerned Palestine is the main issue in the area, and we need to do everything to establish an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem."

Although a unity government was formed, tensions remain high and an election scheduled for last year was placed in indefinite suspension.

"Egypt is interested in Palestinian reconciliation and is prepared to invest many efforts to achieve that," Atty added. "Without reconciliation, Palestinian society is divided and the Palestinian principles are not united. We need to apply pressure and to have meetings so that the Palestinian front will be united and strong on the way to talks with the Israelis."

Egyptian intelligence officers recently met with senior Hamas officials to discuss the strained relationship between Cairo and Hamas, with the possibility of an Egyptian blockade of Gaza being eased.

Cairo is seemingly taking steps to reconcile with Hamas. The Urgent Matters Appeals Court in Cairo on Saturday threw out a lower court's February ruling that labeled Hamas as "terrorist" -- saying the previous court had no jurisdiction to make such a declaration.

"We consider this a correction to the previous mistake," Hamas said in a statement. "This decision confirms Egypt's steadfast towards its ethnic role towards Palestine and without doubt will have its positive effect on bilateral relations."

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, the European Union, Canada and Japan. The organization's charter commits to the destruction of Israel.