Hamas urged Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to pay a visit to the Gaza Strip in order to fully break the blockade around the coastal enclave, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.
“We look forward to the arrival of this man, who out of pity led a revolution in Egypt, a revolution that the Palestinian people are even more happy about than the Egyptian people,” said a Hamas spokesman.
On Tuesday the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, visited Gaza and a representative from Morsi joined the entourage. However, now Hamas would like Morsi himself to make an appearance.
Hamas seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority after a bloody takeover in 2007.
Israel and Egypt maintain a tight blockade on Gaza in an effort to rein in Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups.
“We appreciate that President Morsi sent a representative to join the Qatari delegation but the Palestinian people are waiting for Morsi himself to come and break the blockade,” the spokesman said.
However, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, a senior figure in the Palestinian Authority, which vies for power with Hamas, condemned the visit by the Qatari leader to Gaza.
“They need to understand that state recognition doesn’t come from visits,” Erekat said.
