Hamas chief says ready to meet Palestinian president

By Mustafa Habbush</p> <p>GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh affirmed on Sunday his willingness to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas &quot;at any place&quot; to discuss internal Palestinian situation.</p> <p>Haniyeh's remarks came in a speech during a festival organized by Hamas in the Gaza City to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the movement's establishment that saw the participation of thousands of Palestinian people.</p> <p>The Hamas leader stressed the readiness of his movement to &quot;comply with any requirement to restore Palestinian national unity and end the division.&quot;</p> <p>The Hamas leader also expressed his group's willingness to hold elections, either the presidential or parliamentary.</p> <p>Last month, delegations from Hamas and Fatah held talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on ending the Palestinian division. </p> <p>These talks were one of dozens of rounds — in Cairo and several Arab capitals — between Hamas and Fatah since the start of the Palestinian division in 2007, but the talks have yet to bear fruit.</p> <p>In another context, Haniyeh said that the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, managed to seize a &quot;security treasure&quot; during the failed Israeli security operation in the Gaza Strip, without giving further details.</p> <p>On Nov. 11, the Qassam Brigades announced that they had discovered an Israeli forces’ infiltrating into Khan Younis, east of the Gaza Strip, and killed one officer in a clash with the forces.</p> <p>The failed operation led to an escalation in the Gaza Strip which left seven Palestinians dead.