Haniyeh urges Egypt to stop media incitement

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday urged Egyptian officials to put an end to incitement against Palestinians in the country's media. "It is in our interest that Egypt remains powerful and united, so it can resume its leading role in the Arab and Islamic world to restore Palestine and free Jerusalem," Haniyeh said at Ramadan prayers. Hamas officials have been contacting their Egyptian counterparts to end media speculation that Hamas has been playing a role in social and political unrest in the country. "We haven't played any role in the Egyptian arena because we insist on our declared policy of non-intervention in the internal affairs of any Arab or Islamic country," the Hamas PM said, stressing that the group had not sent militants to the Sinai peninsula. Accusations in the media have had an adverse effect on Palestinians living in Egypt, Haniyeh added.