Egypt, Hamas meet in peace bid

EGYPT’S intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, met Hamas leaders in Gaza yesterday in an effort to bolster a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel and to discuss reconstruction plans following the recent hostilities, Egyptian and Palestinian officials said. The visit was the first by an Egyptian intelligence chief to the enclave since the early 2000s.

“The discussion is focused on ways to cement the calm and Gaza reconstruction plans following the recent Israeli aggression,” said a Hamas official. Hamas officials, led by Gaza chief Yehya Al-Sinwar, would urge Cairo to pressure Israel to stop “its assaults against our people in Jerusalem and Sheikh Jarrah,” he said.

Gaza medical officials said 253 Palestinians were killed during the fighting. Palestinian rockets and missiles killed 13 people in Israel.

Kamel was also expected to announce plans by Cairo to build a housing city in the enclave. Gaza’s housing ministry said 1500 housing units were destroyed during the fighting, another 1 500 units had been damaged beyond repair, and 17 000 others suffered partial damage. A ministry official put the cost of rebuilding at $150 million.