Hamas and Palestinian Authority Leave Cairo Without Gaza Governance Deal

Hamas and Palestinian Authority representatives departed Cairo without finalizing a governance agreement for the Gaza Strip after intensive negotiations.

“Palestinian Authority and Hamas representatives have left Egypt without signing an expected agreement on joint management of the Gaza Strip after the war with Israel, multiple sources reported on Tuesday night”

JNS.org

The talks were reportedly progressing toward a breakthrough but ultimately failed to produce a signed accord despite expectations that an agreement was imminent.

JNS.org

Multiple sources confirm that delegations led by Turkey-based Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad left Egypt.

The delegations departed to formulate their official responses to the Egyptian-drafted proposal, effectively stalling the peace process for now.

The proposed agreement envisioned creating a committee of up to 15 'nonpartisan' Palestinians who would administer the Gaza Strip.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the draft agreement specifically called for this committee to manage the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing with Egypt.

JNS.org

The Rafah Crossing has been at the center of many disputes between Israel and Palestinian factions.

However, the plan faced immediate resistance from Palestinian Authority officials who viewed it as an attempt to create separate political systems rather than achieve the unity they have long sought.

Palestinian Authority officials, particularly senior PA official Jibril Rajoub, strongly opposed the proposed governance structure.

“Palestinian Authority and Hamas representatives have left Egypt without signing an expected agreement on joint management of the Gaza Strip after the war with Israel, multiple sources reported on Tuesday night”

JNS.org

Rajoub publicly stated that the committee concept was fundamentally wrong, declaring 'What committee is this? It is wrong to even discuss this issue.'

He emphasized that the PA insisted on maintaining 'one government, one security apparatus and one unified policy' across all Palestinian territories.

This hardline stance reflected their long-standing position that any governance arrangement must preserve the PA's central authority rather than creating autonomous or parallel structures in Gaza.

Significant obstacles remained that prevented the signing of the agreement, with Palestinian sources revealing key issues including the 'security file' and control over Gaza's crossings.

A Palestinian source familiar with the talks told Sky News Arabia that Hamas was particularly concerned about ensuring that members of both its civil and military apparatus would continue receiving salaries.

JNS.org

This financial concern was coupled with broader security arrangements that Hamas insisted must be addressed before any agreement could be finalized.

The failure to resolve these fundamental issues meant that the delegations had no choice but to withdraw from the talks to reconsider their positions.

This left the future governance of Gaza unresolved and potentially prolonging the instability in the region.