Ismail Haniyeh. Photo: API.

JNS.org – Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of Gaza-ruling Hamas, traveled to Egypt Saturday in his first trip outside of the coastal territory since being elected to his new post for the Palestinian terrorist organization in May.

During his visit to Cairo, Haniyeh reportedly took part in various meetings with Egyptian security officials. Senior Hamas members based outside of Gaza were also part of the terror group’s delegation, including Moussa Abu Marzouk and arch-terrorist Saleh al-Arouri.

Haniyeh’s visit to Cairo follows reports in July of a Hamas delegation led by terrorist Marwan Issa being sent to Egypt to discuss the possibility of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. It is unclear whether the issue of the three Israeli citizens held captive by the terror group was addressed during Saturday’s meeting with Egyptian officials.

In late July, former Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan claimed the Hamas-ruled territory could expect to see the easing of its electricity crisis due to the opening of its border with Egypt. The Palestinian Authority recently reduced its payments to Israel for Gaza’s electricity, leading the Jewish state to cut the power supply to the territory by almost a third, precipitating Gaza’s current energy shortage.