Hamas-Fatah reconciliation talks in Cairo to kick off Tuesday

CAIRO – 9 October 2017: Egyptian-mediated reconciliation will resume in Cairo between Hamas and Fatah delegations on Tuesday, October 10.

Fatah’s delegation will be led by Central Committee and National Relations Commissioner Azzam al-Ahmad, other members of the committee, Director of the Palestinian Intelligence Service Majid Faraj, and Deputy Secretary of Fatah's Revolutionary Council Fayez Abu Eita.

On the other hand, Hamas’ will be led by Deputy Head of the political bureau Saleh al-Arouri, the Hamas Leader in Gaza Yahya al-Senwar and members of the political bureau of Hamas.

The talks, organized by Egypt in Cairo, will stress the necessity of patching up the division, as well as many files of workers, salaries, security and the handover process of the crossings to Palestinian Authority Presidential Guards.

Fatah also will agree with Hamas to implement the reconciliation accord of the 2011 Cairo agreement and will not sign a new one, the member of Fatah’s Central Committee Jamal Moheisen said in a press statement; adding that its implementation will face many obstacles that obstruct reaching understandings between the two movements.

The visit of the Fatah and Hamas delegations coincide with the Palestinian demands by Palestinian public opinion leaders. The demands requested Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refrain from the measures taken against the Gaza Strip.

To put pressure on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza, Abbas in June 2017 cut payments to Israel for the electricity, leading to power being provided for less than four hours a day. He also slashed the salaries of around 60,000 Gazans employed by the Palestinian Authority by 30 percent.

In addition, Hamas has not yet discussed whether it would participate in the national unity government, said Hamas leader Ahmed Youssef.

“If the national interest requires that Hamas should not participate in the national government, Hamas will accept certainly as the national interest is more important than any party’s interest,” added Youssef.

Last week, a high-level Egyptian envoy was sent to Gaza to check on the progress of the latest political developments reached consensually between Fatah and Hamas under an Egyptian sponsorship; which culminated in forming a national reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah.

Egypt has exerted many efforts to end the 10-year dispute between Fatah and Hamas, alleviating the suffering of the Gaza Strip and achieving the national unity of Palestine.

The Social Reconciliation Accord in Cairo aimed to restore unity among Palestinian political actors in 2011 following four years of conflict since 2007. It was inked by the Egyptian authority in 2009, and was accepted by two parties in May 2011 following Palestinian demonstrations.

On the other hand, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi proposed an initiative to his Palestinian counterpart Abbas during Abbas' latest visit to Egypt.

Sisi's initiative, which was approved by Hamas without reservation, includes six items. The six items state, most importantly, dissolving the government administrative committee formed by Hamas. Abbas would subsequently cancel all his punitive measures and decisions against the Gaza Strip and Hamas “without exception.”

Hamas’ movement had announced on September 17 the dissolution of the administrative committee at the Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed in 2011.