Egypt hosts Hamas, Fatah to broker united Palestinian response to Gaza's future

Rival Palestinian factions met in Cairo to discuss post-war governance in the Gaza Strip as part of US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the territory and how it will be administered.

The meetings between Hamas and Fatah began on Thursday in the Egyptian capital to address issues related to the ceasefire agreement, sources told The New Arab’s Arabic-language edition, and a bid to reach a common understanding on Gaza's future.

The Fatah delegation, headed by Hussein al-Sheikh, had initially refused to participate, but the movement’s leadership eventually agreed to join the talks following a request from Egypt and pressure from its General Intelligence Service, sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The agenda focused on political and administrative issues linked to implementing the US plan, which requires internal Palestinian consensus. Sources added that a broader meeting would be held later with the participation of all Palestinian factions.

Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007, while Fatah leads the Palestinian Authority, which has limited control over the occupied West Bank.

The US and Israel have refused to allow Hamas to continue administering Gaza, demanding the group surrender its weapons; otherwise, it will be disarmed by force.

Arab states, including mediators Egypt and Qatar, have also urged Hamas to drop its weapons but insisted that the Gaza ceasefire must form part of a broader resolution of the Palestinian cause.

While Hamas has expressed willingness to step aside from power, it has so far refused to disarm.

This round of talks forms part of Cairo's ongoing efforts to revive inter-Palestinian dialogue and ensure any final ceasefire agreement aligns with a unified vision between the Palestinian Authority and other factions, paving the way for an inclusive framework to manage the next phase in Gaza.

Egyptian intelligence is seeking to achieve a "breakthrough" within Palestinian political circles that would enable the implementation of the ceasefire's provisions.

This includes forming an agreed-upon committee of technocrats for a transitional phase, ensuring official Palestinian participation in the Rafah border crossing's operation, and opening dialogue on regulating Palestinian weapons under local security arrangements.

Cairo's top priority, the sources added, was to unify the Palestinian position to coordinate management of the post-war period, seeing this as essential to instil a sense of calm that will be essential for Gaza’s reconstruction process.

Hamas is advocating for a national Palestinian framework that would address both the question of arms and the future Palestinian state.

Much of Gaza has been left in ruins after two years of war, with more than 68,000 Palestinians killed in what is widely recognised as a genocide. Most of the casualties are civilians, and thousands remain in urgent need of medical evacuation.

Netanyahu's objection

As part of its second phase, Trump's peace plan calls for the establishment of a new government alongside an internationally led transitional administration that would temporarily oversee Gaza, headed by controversial former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The proposal has been widely condemned by Palestinians as a neo-colonial plan for the enclave, and Hamas has rejected it outright.

The US-brokered plan also calls for the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping mission in Gaza, which appears will be Egyptian-led.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government informed Washington that it had opposed participation by countries that had recently recognised a Palestinian state, according to Israeli media, which appears to include the UK, Canada, France, and Australia.

Turkey, whose ties with Israel have sharply deteriorated over the past two years, is also seeking to join the multinational force despite Israeli objections.

Israeli violations

Although the ceasefire has largely held, and the plan's first phase saw Hamas free dozens of captives in exchange for Israel releasing thousands of Palestinian detainees, Israeli attacks have continued.

On Thursday night and into Friday, Palestinian media reported Israeli artillery shelling and gunfire in eastern Gaza City in the north of the enclave, as well as shelling in the eastern area of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Gaza's health ministry reported on Thursday night that 14 bodies had arrived at hospitals over the previous 24 hours.