Hamas leader travels to Egypt, first time since February

GAZA, Palestinian Territory – The Palestinian militant group Hamas says its leader is visiting Egypt for the first time since February, in a potential sign of stepped-up efforts to shore up a Gaza cease-fire.

The Islamic militant group ruling Gaza said on Monday that its politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh would meet Egyptian officials. It didn’t elaborate.

An informal cease-fire brokered by Egypt has prevented major fighting between Israel and Hamas for months. Hamas kept to the sidelines last month during clashes between Israel and Gaza’s smaller and more radical Islamic Jihad militant faction.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and have clashed on numerous occasions since the group seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.