Palestinian reconciliation featured prominently in talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with Cairo reaffirming its support for “efforts to achieve consensus among Palestinian factions.”
A Palestinian official told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the summit was part of longstanding Egyptian efforts to heal internal Palestinian divisions ahead of elections scheduled for November and could pave the way for an intra-Palestinian dialogue in Egypt.
The official expected reconciliation to become a priority in the coming period as Palestinians prepare for the phase following Israel’s elections in October.
During the summit, Cairo affirmed that it would continue working with mediators to implement the agreement to end the war in Gaza reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in October 2025. It stressed the need for all parties to abide by its terms, including halting escalation, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid and creating conditions for early recovery and reconstruction.
Al-Sisi affirmed “Egypt’s support for the Palestinian National Authority and for efforts to achieve consensus among the various Palestinian factions in a way that serves the interests of the Palestinian people,” according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
The two sides also agreed to intensify political coordination at all levels in the coming period.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abbas told al-Sisi during their meeting at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday that efforts would continue to renew national legitimacy through upcoming elections. He reiterated his rejection of any infringement on the unity of Palestinian territory or the sovereign institutions of the State of Palestine.
“Gaza is an integral part of our state, there is no alternative to Palestinian legitimacy, and we will not allow the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” Abbas stressed.
PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu Youssef told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Abbas-Sisi summit was important given the circumstances facing the Palestinian cause, particularly because part of the talks concerned internal Palestinian arrangements, including national dialogue.
He noted that Egypt had consistently sought to ensure the success of such talks and had hosted numerous rounds aimed at healing divisions, ending internal rifts and achieving national unity before elections.
“National dialogue and ending the division are particularly important at this time,” Abu Youssef explained, noting that talks were underway among several factions with the aim of expanding them into a comprehensive national dialogue involving all factions.
He suggested this could take the form of a meeting of faction leaders, as held previously, or a broader call for dialogue, adding that “the most appropriate venue is Egypt.”
Abu Youssef expressed hope that a comprehensive national dialogue involving all sides could produce practical mechanisms to reorganize Palestinian internal affairs and end the division.
Such a process, he added, should affirm the unity of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem, as well as the responsibility of the Palestinian legitimate authority for all those territories, as preparations continue for upcoming elections.
He cited legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 28, provided the Israeli government does not obstruct them, particularly in Gaza.
Abu Youssef further maintained that it was in everyone’s interest to respond to Cairo’s efforts to heal the rift and for national dialogue to convene before the elections.
More importantly, he argued, the talks should produce results commensurate with current challenges and risks, reorganize Palestinian internal affairs on the basis of comprehensive national unity, uphold Palestinian rights and principles, and preserve representation through the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to unify the Palestinian ranks. Cairo has sponsored several rounds of talks, but none has produced a final agreement.
