Hamas, Islamic Jihad stress need for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ) on Saturday stressed the need to compel Israel to halt its "aggression" and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip.



In a press statement, Hamas said a delegation headed by Zaher Jabarin, the movement's leader in the West Bank, met with a PIJ delegation led by Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.



According to the statement, the two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening joint action, adopting unified national positions, and making every effort to protect the Palestinian people and restore what they described as their legitimate rights.



The statement said Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' political bureau, and al-Nakhalah held a phone call during the meeting, stressing the need to support the Palestinian people and end Israel's ongoing "aggression."