PM Haneyya: We only work against the occupation and have no role in Egypt

Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya reiterated on Friday that neither Hamas nor the Gaza Strip has any kind of a military or security role in Egypt, Rafah or Sinai.

“Our ties with Egypt are only the bonds of goodness, Islam, thought, strategic work and brotherhood. Our military and security role is here on the land of Palestine and we work only against the Zionist occupation,” Haneyya, who also holds the post of deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau, stated in his khutba (sermon) yesterday.

“Yes, there are educational and intellectual links, we are proud of and do not deny, with the Muslim Brotherhood school, but this relationship does not allow us to interfere in the internal affairs of Egypt and the other countries,” Haneyya underlined.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is based in more than 70 countries around the world, and we have to invest its [global] presence in the support of the Palestinian cause without interfering in the internal conflicts of the countries,” the premier added.

The premier also criticized the accusation leveled against the kidnapped Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi about his communications with Hamas and described it as unrealistic.

“This claim is against the reality, the norms, the brotherhood and the ties we have with our brothers in Egypt. The Palestinian resistance with all its factions, especially Hamas, has open relations with many countries, meets with officials and non-officials and does not interfere in the internal Arab affairs.”

“Hamas and the resistance factions have relations with Egypt before the coming of president Morsi, and we started 25 years ago this relationship with the security and political leadership, forces and parties in Egypt and since then we have had a transparent relationship with them,” Haneyya elaborated.