Cairo Talks: Hamas, Jihad Open to 'Technocrat Cabinet'

Hamas and Jihad officials during the meeting in Cairo (Hamas Movement)
Hamas and Jihad officials during the meeting in Cairo (Hamas Movement)
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Cairo Talks: Hamas, Jihad Open to 'Technocrat Cabinet'

Hamas and Jihad officials during the meeting in Cairo (Hamas Movement)
Hamas and Jihad officials during the meeting in Cairo (Hamas Movement)

Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements continued their talks in Cairo with Egyptian security officials to discuss several issues focusing on establishing "long-term calm" in Gaza and improving the humanitarian and economic situation in the Strip.

Hamas announced an expanded meeting began in Cairo between the head of the politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, and the Secretary-General of the Jihad movement, Ziad al-Nakhala.

They discussed ways to strengthen their strategic relationship "to serve issues of the resistance and the Palestinian people." They also highlighted the attacks on the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, al-Aqsa Mosque, and the West Bank.

A Palestinian source familiar with the consultations said the meeting between the coalitions took place separately from the discussions that the leaders of each faction held separately with Egyptian security officials.

The leaders also met with a delegation representing the Democratic Reform Bloc, led by Palestinian leader Mohammed Dahlan.

The source, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, explained that the consultations between the factions and the Egyptian side focused on "seeking a long-term calm in Gaza" and "improving the humanitarian and economic situation in the Strip."

He pointed out that the officials lauded Egypt's role in maintaining calm in the sector and renewed the affirmation of their response to these efforts to spare the enclave from any Israeli escalation.

The source referred to a proposal to form a Palestinian "technocratic government" that would supervise, within a year, the parliamentary and presidential elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hamas and Jihad initially approved the proposal, but they expressed to the Egyptian side their fear that the Palestinian Authority (PA) might obstruct the move.

The source pointed out that the Hamas movement feared President Mahmoud Abbas might hinder the proposal, citing his decision to appoint a new constitutional court.

Hamas does not recognize the legitimacy of the constitutional court and considers it a mere tool to circumvent the Palestinian President's decision to dissolve the elected parliament, confirming that Abbas does not intend to move forward with holding the elections.

On Thursday, four judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court took the oath before the President in Ramallah after Abbas issued a decision in May appointing new judges, following his previous decision to retire seven.

In 2018, the President dissolved the Palestinian Legislative Council, controlled by Hamas. The movement rejected the decision saying it "has no constitutional or legal value."

The last elections for the Legislative Council were held in 2006.

- Commodity entry

The source pointed out that the talks also addressed ways to facilitate the entry of goods and merchandise into the Gaza Strip in coordination with Egypt.

He indicated that the PA required supervision of the crossings to collect customs, which Hamas also rejected.

Egypt had invited the Hamas and Jihad leaders to a new round of consultations, which began last Saturday, after the arrival of the members of the delegations of the two movements, whether from the Gaza Strip or abroad.

The consultations mainly aim to maintain calm in the Gaza Strip and ensure that the security situation does not lead to another confrontation with Israel.



Egypt Says Israel-EU Agreement Has Not Increased Aid to Gaza

Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty arrives for a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers on the sidelines of the EU-Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, 14 July 2025. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty arrives for a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers on the sidelines of the EU-Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, 14 July 2025. (EPA)
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Egypt Says Israel-EU Agreement Has Not Increased Aid to Gaza

Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty arrives for a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers on the sidelines of the EU-Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, 14 July 2025. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty arrives for a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers on the sidelines of the EU-Southern Neighborhood Ministerial Meeting at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, 14 July 2025. (EPA)

Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday that the flow of aid into Gaza has not increased despite an agreement last week between Israel and the European Union that should have had that result.

"Nothing has changed (on the ground)," Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told reporters ahead of the EU-Middle East meeting in Brussels on Monday.

The EU's top diplomat said on Thursday that the bloc and Israel agreed to improve Gaza's humanitarian situation, including increasing the number of aid trucks and opening crossing points and aid routes.

Asked what steps Israel has taken, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar referred to an understanding with the EU but did not provide details on implementation.

Asked if there were improvements after the agreement, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters that the situation in Gaza remains "catastrophic".

"There is a real catastrophe happening in Gaza resulting from the continuation of the Israeli siege," he said.

Safadi said Israel allowed the entry of 40 to 50 trucks days ago from Jordan but that was "far from being sufficient" for the besieged enclave.

EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of Monday's meeting that there have been some signs of progress on Gaza aid but not enough improvement on the ground.

Israel's continued military operations and blockade have left the entire population of 2.3 million people in Gaza facing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million at risk of famine by the end of September, a joint United Nations report said last month.