Zahhar: Egypt lost its role in reconciliation

Senior Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar has described the Cairo court decision banning all activities for Hamas in Egypt and closing its offices as “political par excellence”.

An Egyptian court had passed a decision on Tuesday labeling Hamas as a “terrorist organization” and thus ordered banning its activities and closing its offices in Egypt if there were any.

Zahhar said in a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday that Egypt after this court decision had “lost its role in the (Palestinian) reconciliation”.

Zahhar, political bureau member of Hamas, said that his movement would sue the lawyer who filed this lawsuit against Hamas at the opportune time.

He added that justice was absent in this decision because it was issued in the absence of any defense for Hamas and did not provide substantial evidence to the “lies” of that lawyer.

This decision criminalizes Hamas that engaged in four wars against Israel in six years and was never defeated, the Hamas leader said, adding that the decision greatly served the “Zionist project”.

Hamas has no offices or funds in Egypt while Israel has an embassy there, Zahhar said, adding that the Egyptian authorities close the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in face of patients and civilians while allowing Israelis entry without visas through the Taba crossing.