Hamas chief says ready to meet Palestinian president

By Mustafa Habbush

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh affirmed on Sunday his willingness to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "at any place" to discuss internal Palestinian situation.

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.

The Hamas leader stressed the readiness of his movement to "comply with any requirement to restore Palestinian national unity and end the division."

The Hamas leader also expressed his group's willingness to hold elections, either the presidential or parliamentary.

Last month, delegations from Hamas and Fatah held talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on ending the Palestinian division.

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.

In another context, Haniyeh said that the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, managed to seize a "security treasure" during the failed Israeli security operation in the Gaza Strip, without giving further details.

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.

The failed operation led to an escalation in the Gaza Strip which left seven Palestinians dead.