Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    GAZA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Monday that an Egyptian security delegation, which used to mediate between Hamas and its rival Fatah movement, will return to the Gaza Strip.

    Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, told a pro-Hamas daily that he welcomed the return of the Egyptian mediators and pledged to facilitate the mission of the delegation.

    But Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, said the Egyptian mediators will not go to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip unless the Islamic faction left the security compounds that it occupied during "its military coup."

    Concerning an Fatah-Hamas dialogue, Abu Zuhri accused Fatah movement, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, of refusing to talk with Hamas.

    "We call for dialogue because we are responsible ... we are not weak," said Abu Zuhri.

    Hamas has been calling for talks with Abbas but was refused. On July 4, Abbas renewed rejection to hold talks with Hamas unless the Islamic movement changed the conditions that resulted from "its military coup in Gaza."

    Hamas militants overran members of Fatah and took control of the Gaza Strip last month, during which at least 100 Palestinians were killed.

    In a response, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led unity government which took office on March 17, and sworn in an emergency government in the West Bank, which Hamas denounced as "illegitimate."