GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As Hamas continues efforts to bolster its relationship with Egypt, a Hamas delegation visited Al-Azhar headquarters this month. Led by the head of Hamas’ politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, the delegation arrived at Egypt’s highest religious authority to meet the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb.

Haniyeh’s stop Feb. 7 at Al-Azhar came as part of a Hamas tour of Egypt that began Feb. 3. The Hamas delegation discussed with Egyptian intelligence representatives the situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as the truce with Israel. The delegation also paid visits to other Egyptian institutions, including the Cairo headquarters of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper Feb. 12, in an effort to change the negative way Hamas said it has been depicted by Egyptian media in recent years.

An Al-Azhar official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Hamas leaders requested the meeting with Egyptian authorities as part of the movement’s visit schedule in Egypt.

The official said a positive atmosphere prevailed during the visit, as Tayeb discussed mechanisms to ease the human suffering in Gaza, and addressed Israeli violations in Jerusalem’s holy places. Tayeb also implored Hamas to work toward ending the internal Palestinian division with the Fatah movement in the West Bank.