Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday on a diplomatic visit to discuss the latest regional developments, especially the ongoing crises in Libya and Yemen.
“We are entirely committed to being part of Alliance Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, whether through military support or by participating in negotiations led by the Kingdom,” said Shoukry in a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.
On his part, Al-Jubeir denied media claims that a meeting between the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Hamas movement and Saudi officials took place, explaining that a Hamas delegation led by Khaled Meshaal were on a religious trip and visited Mecca.
“There has been no recent official meeting between Palestinian Hamas and Saudi officials,” according to Al-Jubeir.
“It is their absolute right as any other Muslims [to visit Saudi], and they held prayers during Eid El-Fitr,” Al-Jubeir said, adding that Saudi Arabia has not switch it stance on the Palestinian case and continues to back the Fatah movement government.
“Saudi Arabia also fully supports Egypt’s strategy in protecting its territory and national security,” Al-Jubeir affirmed.
Egypt had led a massive campaign against Hamas on grounds that the movement is helping and training terrorist elements to run insurgencies in North Sinai.
This had resulted in the destruction of thousands of underground tunnels and the constant Gaza border crossing closures with Egypt. Additionally, former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group were charged with “conspiring with Hamas”.
