A delegation from the Hamas politburo departed Gaza to Egypt on Friday to discuss a number of Palestinian files, most notably the stalled reconciliation with the rival Fatah movement. Talks will be carried out between Hamas and Egyptian intelligence officials. The Hamas delegation is headed by politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh and includes Khalil al-Haya and Rouhi Mushtaha, who was appointed as the movement’s permanent liaison officer to Egypt. This marks Haniyeh’s second trip to Egypt since assuming the position of politburo chief in May 2017. His first visit was in September where he held talks with Egyptian intelligence officials on files related to the reconciliation, which was signed between Hamas and Fatah in October. Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas’ visit to Egypt was coordinated between Haniyeh, Moussa Abou Marzouq and Egyptian intelligence. Abou Marzouq may arrive in Egypt from Qatar to later join the Hamas delegation. He had previously made a two-day trip to Cairo where he held a series of talks with various officials. The Hamas talks in Cairo will focus on joint security cooperation with Egyptian intelligence, as well as pending files related to the border and Sinai. The delegation left for Cairo at the same time Egyptian security forces kicked off a major campaign against terrorists in Sinai on Friday. The sources expected a Fatah delegation to arrive in Cairo within hours or days. It will be headed by Azzam al-Ahmed, who is in charge of the reconciliation file. The movement officials will hold talks with Egyptian officials and possibly with members of Hamas. Discussions will address the reconciliation, especially enabling the Fatah government to assume its duties in Hamas-controled Gaza. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement that the visit is aimed at consulting with Egypt on efforts to ease crises on Israeli-besieged Gaza, where conditions are on “the edge of the abyss.” He confirmed that talks will also focus on the reconciliation and Hamas efforts to protect the Palestinian cause in wake of Washington’s decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The implementation of the long-awaited 2017 reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah has stalled amid lingering disputes between the two Palestinian factions.