GAZA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The deputy chief of Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza said on Sunday that ties between his movement and Egypt have been improving over the past 15 months.
"The last visit of the senior Hamas delegation to Cairo was the best visit ever over the past 15 months," said Khalil al-Hayya in a news briefing in Gaza City, adding that over the past 15 months, Hamas officials visited Egypt five time.
He went on saying that the last visit which lasted for nine days "was the best, which was more open and frank and depended on the principle of developing the ties and improving it."
"The major issues largely discussed are how to help the populations of Gaza to overcome their hard living situation due to ten years of Israeli siege and unprecedented measured imposed by President (Mahmoud) Abbas," he said.
Al-Hayya unveiled that "security ties between Hamas and Egypt were largely debated, mainly the security situation on the borderline area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Over the past five years, Egypt has been accusing Hamas movement, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007, for creating a status of security instability in the Egyptian Peninsula of Sinai.
Ties between the two sides deteriorated after the Islamic movement backed ousted Muslim Brother President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
An Egyptian court had two years ago outlawed Hamas and its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades. Al-Hayya said during the last visit, Hamas delegation promised the Egyptian side that the borders between Gaza and Egypt will be fully protected.
