![[FILE] From L-R Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Murad Muwafi, Egyptian intelligence chief, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby and Khaled Mashaal the head of the Political Bureau of Hamas during the ceremony of reaching agreement between Fatah and Hamas 04 May 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. EPA/FILE/KHALED ELFIQI](https://i0.wp.com/efe.noticiasdopara.net/wp-content/s/2024/10/rss-efe72d76113110ea7037ecde2d84929af841446f4b7w.jpg?fit=1920%2C1168&ssl=1)
Cairo, Oct 8 (EFE).- Senior delegations from Hamas and Fatah are holding talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials to discuss control of Gaza and the management of border crossings after the war.
Egyptian security sources told EFE on Tuesday that the meeting is aimed at forging a unified stance on governance and crossings, including the crucial Rafah with Egypt.
The sources, who requested anonymity, said the Hamas delegation is led by Khalil al-Haya, the group’s second-in-command in Gaza, while Fatah’s team is headed by Mahmoud Alalol, deputy leader of the movement, under the direction of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
“Egypt will hold talks with the two sides on the ongoing war in Gaza, the management of the crossings and the istration of the strip after the war,” a source said.
Cairo is working to broker an agreement between the Palestinian factions, particularly concerning control of the Rafah land crossing, which links Gaza to Egypt. The aim is to convince Israel that the crossings should be managed by the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has thus far refused to withdraw from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which it occupied in May. The crossing, through which most aid enters Gaza, and the Philadelphi corridor between Gaza and Egypt, remain under Israeli control due to security concerns.
Cairo, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, has repeatedly expressed its opposition to Israel’s presence in the Philadelphi corridor and its control of Rafah’s Palestinian side, insisting that the Palestinian Authority should take charge.
The talks will focus on the war in Gaza, and how to reach an understanding on the istration of Gaza after the war, the sources said.
They added that with such an agreement between Hamas and Fatah, Cairo hopes to convince Israel to allow the PA to manage the crossings once the war ends.
Another key topic is Palestinian national reconciliation and finding ways for Hamas and Fatah to overcome long-standing political differences.
The two factions have been divided since 2007, when Hamas expelled Fatah from Gaza and seized control of the territory after winning legislative elections in 2006.
In late July, around 20 Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Fatah, signed a declaration in Beijing pledging to end internal divisions and enhance Palestinian unity and dialog. EFE
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