Egypt Daily News – Negotiations in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas today have failed to make significant progress on key issues regarding the governance of the Gaza Strip and post-war reconstruction arrangements.
The discussions, hosted by Egypt, involved delegations from both factions, with Hamas led by Khalil al-Hayya and Fatah by Mahmoud al-Aloul.
Sources indicate that the lack of consensus stems from several disagreements, primarily Hamas’s insistence on the community support committee being administratively and financially independent of the Palestinian Authority.
This has created a deadlock, particularly regarding the management of border crossings and the inclusion of Hamas-affiliated figures in the committee, rather than the initially proposed independent public figures.
Fatah has also opposed Hamas’s proposals to collect crossing fees via its representatives and oversee technical operations at these crossings. Additionally, Hamas advocates for prioritizing the treatment of Hamas-affiliated casualties at medical facilities outside Gaza when borders are open to the injured.
The Egyptian initiative proposes establishing a community support committee to address critical issues such as crossings, health, and social services, with the intention of improving conditions in Gaza under the Palestinian government’s authority.
Despite these proposals, the meeting concluded without resolving contentious points, and no final statement was anticipated post-discussions.
Looking ahead, the Egyptian mediators aim to convene a broader meeting involving all Palestinian factions within the next week, continuing efforts to unify Palestinian leadership and promote national reconciliation.
Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas abroad, noted the importance of these talks in reconciling the positions of both movements, referencing prior acceptance by Hamas of an Egyptian proposal for a technocratic national consensus government to manage Gaza and the West Bank—though this was not supported by other factions.
