Hamas Hopes Negotiations Would Coincide with Easing PA Sanctions

Palestinian Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh waves as he and senior Hamas leaders wait for the arrival of Egyptian intelligence chief Khaled Fawzi in Gaza City October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Palestinian Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh waves as he and senior Hamas leaders wait for the arrival of Egyptian intelligence chief Khaled Fawzi in Gaza City October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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Hamas Hopes Negotiations Would Coincide with Easing PA Sanctions

Palestinian Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh waves as he and senior Hamas leaders wait for the arrival of Egyptian intelligence chief Khaled Fawzi in Gaza City October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Palestinian Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh waves as he and senior Hamas leaders wait for the arrival of Egyptian intelligence chief Khaled Fawzi in Gaza City October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

On the eve of the launching of the Palestinian reconciliation talks in Cairo, the Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas – has put forward what was described as minimum gains and a ceiling of concessions, according to a movement official.

There are “"irreversible constants, such as the weapons of resistance and equal participation in government,” the official told Asharq al-Awsat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He noted that the ball was now in the court of Fatah Movement, Egypt and other Arab countries, as Hamas has shown “great flexibility to reach an advanced point in the path of reconciliation.”

The official added that the movement “is waiting for the fulfillment of promises made by several parties, which cover some political demands, and other economic and developmental aspects.”

It is expected that the round of reconciliation talks between representatives of Fatah and Hamas would resolve a number of points of disagreement, mainly Hamas' Qassam Brigades and the financial sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority on the Gaza Strip.

The Fatah delegation in the negotiations is headed by Azzam al-Ahmad, member of the movement’s central committee, and includes leaders Rouhi Fattouh, Fayez Abu Ayta, Hussein al-Sheikh and Major General Majed Faraj. On the other hand, the Hamas delegation includes Yehya al-Sinwar, Khalil al-Hayya, Husam Badran, Izzat al-Rishq, Moussa Abu Marzouk and Saleh al-Arouri.

Prior to the start of the negotiations on Tuesday, Hamas Spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou told Asharq al-Awsat that the movement was committed to the 2011 Cairo Agreement, on which the talks would be based.

He added that Hamas hoped the negotiations would coincide with easing sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority on the Gaza Strip.

The “Cairo Agreement”, which was reached by Hamas, Fatah and the Palestinian factions, under the auspices of Egypt, stipulates the establishment of a government of national unity, the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections, and the restructuring of security services.

Qanou renewed Hamas’ refusal to put the Qassam Brigades on the discussion table.
“It was never raised before, at any stage, and will not be raised,” he said.



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.