Hamas says it held talks with Fatah on managing Gaza's affairs

GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that it held discussions with the Fatah movement on the establishment of a committee to address Gaza's needs and issues during a meeting in Cairo.

“Following ongoing discussions with various Palestinian factions, we held a meeting with our brothers in Fatah at the invitation of Egypt,” Osama Hamdan, a leader in Hamas, said in a video message.

According to Hamdan, the two parties examined “various national issues, particularly the war on Gaza and ways to work collectively to confront the (Israeli) occupation's plans and its supporters, based on a consensus to reject any imposed arrangements.”

“Many ideas were discussed, including forming a committee to address Gaza’s affairs and needs across various issues until conditions allow for the establishment of a national unity government,” he added.

Both sides emphasized that managing the affairs of the Palestinian people, whether in Gaza, the West Bank or the diaspora, is a purely Palestinian matter that should be based on national consensus, according to Hamdan.

He affirmed Hamas’s commitment to continue meetings and communication with Fatah and all Palestinian factions to achieve the best solutions and frameworks that serve the Palestinian people, especially those in Gaza.

On Saturday, a source from Egypt announced the start of discussions between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo to explore forming a committee to manage Gaza’s affairs while continuing efforts to reach a cease-fire in the territory, the Al-Qahera el-Ekhbariya news channel reported.

Israel has continued a devastating offensive on Gaza since an attack last October by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 43,300 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 102,260 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio