Egypt’s capital is set to host a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue in the coming days to discuss key issues tied to US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and chart the enclave’s future, following Hamas’s reported willingness to give up its rule of the territory.
Palestinian sources from several factions, including Hamas, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Egypt has sent invitations to most Palestinian factions to take part in the conference, which is expected to be held next week in Cairo.”
The final date has yet to be confirmed, the sources said, citing ongoing preparations for implementing the first phase of the ceasefire plan.
Who Will Attend?
According to the sources, the meeting was initiated at the request of Hamas’s negotiating delegation, which urged Cairo to bring together all factions - including Fatah and those under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) - to address the crucial questions surrounding the Palestinian cause.
They added that Hamas’s response to Trump’s plan emphasized the need to discuss such matters within a national Palestinian framework and under Arab and Islamic auspices.
Contentious Issues
The discussions are expected to focus on the structure, role, and members of a committee to be formed to administer Gaza, as well as the future of the enclave, the issue of Hamas’s armed wing, and the broader Palestinian situation in the aftermath of the war and its immediate aftermath, the sources said.
These contentious questions are among the thorniest provisions in Trump’s ceasefire proposal.
On September 30, Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the movement was seeking “consensus among Palestinian factions” before taking positions on the “problematic clauses” in Trump’s plan, particularly those concerning “disarmament.”
Clear Terms on Weapons
Hamas sources said the movement is holding discussions with mediators on “clear terms” regarding its weapons and the fate of its remaining leaders in Gaza. “There is openness from the mediators and even from the United States about how such provisions could be worded,” one source said.
They believe the outcome of the upcoming Palestinian national dialogue will have significant implications for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations over Gaza.
Future Roadmap
Husam Badran, head of Hamas’s National Relations Office, said in a statement that since Trump’s plan was announced, the movement has been in contact with various factions and national figures. It has held meetings, exchanged messages, and coordinated positions with faction leaders and independents to ensure a unified approach.
He stressed that Hamas is keen to hold an inclusive national dialogue in Cairo to review all aspects of the agreement and outline a joint roadmap for the next stages. “Any Palestinian decision must reflect national unity and include all factions, elites, and the Palestinian people,” Badran said in a press statement.
PLO Welcomes the Initiative
The PLO Executive Committee welcomed Egypt’s invitation for a comprehensive national dialogue among all Palestinian factions, describing it as an important step that should be implemented swiftly “to reinforce the unity of the Palestinian land and people within the occupied State of Palestine - the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.”
The committee said the dialogue should also pave the way for implementing relevant international resolutions, foremost among them the two-state solution, according to its statement.
