Hamas In Monday denied holding meetings with Israeli officials in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The movement’s spokesman, Hazem Qassem, described the reported meeting as “false and baseless”. “The promotion of this false news is a miserable attempt to distort the resistance,” Qassem said. On Saturday, the Independent Arabia reported that a secret meeting took place between Nadav Argaman, head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet) and Hamas leaders, including Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of the movement’s political bureau, last week in Cairo. The news site pointed out that the meeting was mediated by Egyptian intelligence chief, Major General Abbas Kamel, who suggested that Argaman listen directly to Hamas’ terms for a long truce, and explain the Israeli position. Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have been leading consultations for several months to reach a truce between Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel which includes easing the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, in exchange for halting the Great March of return protests. AFP.