Egypt, Hamas agree to link electricity grids

Egypt and Hamas reached an energy agreement Thursday that will ultimately connect Gaza's electricity grid to Egypt's as part of a plan to end the energy crisis in Gaza, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported.

According to Ma'an, Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu said Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh struck a deal with Egyptian officials and the Islamic development bank after "intensive negotiations."

The final deal, to be implemented in three stages, begins with Egyptian companies pumping fuel into Gaza under contracts signed with individual companies.