Palestinian factions meet in Egypt on Gaza governance and ceasefire

Palestinian political groups are gathering in Cairo on Saturday for a two‑day meeting at Egypt’s invitation to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip. Representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other factions are expected to attend, while the Fatah movement led by Mahmoud Abbas is not anticipated to join. The talks, also slated to include the Democratic Reform Movement headed by Mohammed Dahlan, aim to solidify the fragile cease‑fire with Israel, halt ongoing assassinations of militants, and devise a plan for interim management of Gaza, potentially handing responsibilities to a technocratic committee.

The broader negotiations will involve mediators from the cease‑fire’s guarantor states and the U.S.‑appointed peace council envoy Nikolay Mladinov. Participants hope to address security arrangements, the expansion of crossing points, increased humanitarian aid and the removal of remaining Israeli troops, while fighting continues in Gaza, with recent Israeli airstrikes reported to have killed dozens of civilians.