(VOVWORLD) - Representatives from Fatah and Hamas have begun talks in Cairo to achieve consensus within Palestine and prevent the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip, Egypt's State Information Service said on Saturday, citing an Egyptian security official. The two sides have also agreed to establish a committee to manage humanitarian and relief activities in Gaza.
 A destructive scene after an Israeli bombing in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip on October 30, 2024 (photo: XNA/VNA) |
The committee will be established by a decree of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which will include independent figures, not affiliate with any movement.
Hamas has insisted on addressing all issues related to the conflict comprehensively, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the prisoner exchange, and the resumption of humanitarian activities.
Hamas fears that if these issues are handled separately, Israel may resume its attacks on Gaza after securing the release of Israeli hostages. So far Israel has rejected the role of Hamas in the post Gaza conflict and distrusted the Palestinian Authority to run the territory.
In other developments, the Israeli army on Saturday launched an airstrike on the Al-Qaa border between Lebanon and Syria for the second time in a week. The strike rendered the crossing inoperable after it had been partially reopened following an earlier raid.
According to Lebanese officials, since October 4, Israel has attacked the Masnaa border crossing and five other official crossings along with many unofficial routes along the Lebanon-Syria border, including the main route for Lebanese people to flee to neighboring Syria.