Haniyeh returns to Gaza as deputy Hamas chief

Prime minister of the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday arrived in the coastal enclave after a five-day visit to Cairo.During his stay in Cairo, Haniyeh met with Egyptian officials and discussed several issues including Israeli violations of the truce Egypt brokered between Hamas and Israel.Haniyeh also met with director of Egyptian intelligence Raafat Shehadah.Furthermore, Haniyeh attended a general meeting for Hamas’ leadership dedicated to elect new members of the movement’s politburo. Current chief Khalid Mashaal was reelected and Haniyeh was elected deputy chief of the politburo, according to a statement released by Hamas earlier this week.A Ma’an reporter said that Haniyeh received a phone call from Hamdeen Sabahi, the leader of the Egyptian Popular Current, on Thursday. Sabahi congratulated Hamas for completing internal elections.