GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh hosted a group of Egyptian clerics Saturday at his Gaza home, a statement from the Islamist movement said.

"Egypt is no longer a strategic ally of the Israeli enemy, but rather an ally to the Arab nation's resistance and steadfastness," Haniyeh said during the meeting.

The Hamas leader said that Palestinians in Gaza had felt a change in Egypt's position during the last Israeli offensive on the coastal territory in November.

"The position Egypt's president Muhammad Mursi and his administration harmed the Israeli enemy to the same degree as the Palestinian resistance on the ground," he added.