Egyptian mediators notified Hamas of the cancellation of a high-level Cairo meeting initially scheduled for Sunday with a Palestinian Authority delegation, even as Fatah denied ever requesting the encounter aimed at resolving obstacles ahead of November’s legislative elections, according to sources who spoke to Al Manassa.
A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al Manassa that Egyptian mediators informed the movement of the cancellation without offering an explanation, though the delegation’s visit to Cairo remains ongoing.
In response, Fatah spokesman Monzer Al-Hayek told Al Manassa that Fatah had not requested a meeting, clarifying that the delegation currently in Cairo represents the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization rather than Fatah as a distinct political party.
The delegation comprises PA Vice President and Fatah Deputy Chairman Hussein Al-Sheikh, Palestinian General Intelligence Chief and Fatah Central Committee member Majed Faraj, and Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh.
Al-Hayek stated that the proposed session was part of broader Egyptian efforts to bring the factions together rather than a Fatah initiative, meaning the party made no official decision to cancel.
The political maneuvering underscores the steep hurdles facing the Nov. 28 legislative vote, announced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas following European advice and backed by regional Arab support.
If conducted, it would mark the first parliamentary election since 2006, when a Hamas majority victory led to the collapse of a short-lived national unity government and subsequent 2007 clashes that left Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip.
Al-Hayek emphasized that the PA delegation’s focus in Cairo is navigating the logistical and political barriers to holding elections. He noted that voting arrangements must account for dual realities on the ground, where Israel controls up to 70% of the Gaza Strip alongside ongoing governance by Hamas.
Despite the lack of direct dialogue with Hamas, the PA delegation met in Cairo on Monday with representatives of the Democratic Reform Bloc, a Fatah splinter movement led by exiled leader Mohammed Dahlan. The discussions, led on the reform bloc side by Samir Mashharawi, focused on electoral alignment and broader Palestinian political partnerships.
Simultaneously, talks are progressing among Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Dahlan’s Democratic Reform Bloc to explore running on a joint electoral ticket. The senior Hamas official noted that while formal declarations remain premature, all three groups have indicated a willingness to form a unified candidate list.
Such an alliance would allow Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to participate in the parliamentary election without directly committing to the PLO's political platform. In July, President Abbas issued a decree requiring all participating lists and candidates to adhere to the PLO program and international legitimacy resolutions, which mandate the recognition of Israel.
The canceled session was slated to be the first direct meeting between Hamas and Fatah leadership since October, when delegations led by Hamas politburo member Khalil Al-Hayya and Fatah’s Al-Sheikh and Faraj met in Cairo to discuss the governance of Gaza and the creation of a national administrative committee.
A Hamas source noted that while no reasons were provided for Sunday’s cancellation, the possibility of future talks has not been entirely closed.
