Palestinian Authority officials said that EU security officials have been conducting secret talks with Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip over the past few weeks, the Jerusalem Post reported. The EU representatives were reportedly from three intelligence agencies.
Israeli and EU officials say they have no information confirming that these meetings took place.
Unidentified sources said that the Hamas leaders called on their visitors from the EU to work towards an end to the boycott against the Hamas government in Gaza and to pressure Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The crossing has been closed due to security concerns.
"We hope these talks will be the first step toward ending the boycott of Hamas, which came to power in a free and democratic election," the sources told the paper. "There is growing awareness among the Europeans of the fact that Hamas can't be ignored as a major player in the Palestinian arena."
Israel has discouraged any attempt to renew diplomatic relations with Hamas in an effort to bolster moderate forces in the Palestinian territories.
"Hamas should not be dealt with and should be kept as far away form the game as possible," a government official said, adding that Hamas was a terrorist organization "that continues to do whatever it can to impede any chance for progress."
Leaders of several EU countries have advocated for the renewal of relations with Hamas, despite the EU's official stance designating Hamas as a terrorist organization.
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