Hamas and Fatah officials arrive in Cairo for talks, Israel blocks three leaders from leaving the West Bank

Delegates from Hamas and Fatah are schedule to sit down in Cairo today to resume reconciliatory talks that were brokered by Egypt. Senior officials from both groups, including Gazan leader Yehiyeh Sinwar, arrived in Egypt on Monday for what is considered “the most ambitious attempt at reconciliation since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in 2007,” the Associated Press says. Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said yesterday that the two sides’ talks will focus on “the security issue, especially in Gaza, in the way that serves the home front, enforces the rule of law in a professional and national way and is not factional.”

This comes as we hear that Israel has reportedly refused to allow three Hamas leaders to leave the West Bank for Egypt, Anadolu Agency reports. “Egyptian efforts have failed to persuade Israel to allow the three group leaders from the West Bank to join the Hamas delegation in the talks,” Hamas official Hassan Yousef says.