Egypt has reiterated its commitment to Palestinian unity and its rejection of any plans for the displacement of Palestinians from their land. Egypt also reaffirmed its ongoing international efforts with various parties to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
An official from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced that leaders from Hamas and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, held further talks in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss Palestinian reconciliation.
The meeting, hosted by Egyptian mediators, reflects intensified diplomatic efforts to overcome the rift that has separated the Palestinian territories politically and administratively since 2007.
Taher al-Nounou, media advisor to Hamas Political Bureau Chief, stated that the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, led by Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's chief negotiator and Deputy Head of the Political Bureau.
Al-Nounou said, "The meeting will address the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the challenges facing the Palestinian cause."
This meeting marks the first since both factions held talks in Beijing last July, where they agreed on steps toward forming a unity government. Previous rounds of similar negotiations have largely failed to yield progress.
One of the most complex issues facing the Palestinians is managing Gaza after the war. Both Hamas and Fatah consider this an internal matter and reject any Israeli-imposed conditions.
The Israeli occupation government has pledged not to accept any administrative role for Hamas in Gaza post-war and has also expressed distrust in the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, to undertake this task.
For years, the relationship between Hamas and Fatah has fluctuated between periods of cooperation, reconciliation attempts, and phases of escalation and disagreement. Since the Palestinian split in 2007, following Hamas's takeover of Gaza, several Arab and international parties, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, have attempted to mediate unity agreements. However, most of these efforts have ultimately failed.
The Palestinian-Palestinian meeting rekindles new hopes for a “reconciliation” that could pave the way for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which has been enduring a devastating Israeli war for nearly a year.
Palestinian sources indicate that the talks will address arrangements for governing Gaza and managing the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, previously controlled by Hamas before the Israel War.
The meeting occurs amid a stalemate in Gaza truce negotiations that have lasted for weeks. This deadlock stems from Netanyahu's insistence on retaining control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Route, bordering Egypt, and his refusal to allow Hamas to remain in power after the war ends.
As talks proceed, many wonder whether this latest round of discussions in Cairo will finally deliver the long-sought unity or if historical grievances will again close the doors to reconciliation.
A unified Palestinian leadership could strengthen the Palestinian position in negotiations and regional diplomacy. If successful, a unified front could reshape the Palestinian political landscape, fostering resilience and new opportunities in the pursuit of statehood.