Rival Palestinian Leaders Break Barriers, Form Committee for National Unity Amidst Escalating Violence

Rival Palestinian political leaders have come together in Egypt to form a committee on intra-Palestinian reconciliation. President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh held rare face-to-face talks in the city of El Alamein, along with representatives from various Palestinian political factions.

The purpose of this latest attempt at reconciliation is to bridge the gap between the parallel governments of Hamas in the blockaded Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority, controlled by Abbas's Fatah movement, which administers Palestinian-run areas of the occupied West Bank.

During the meeting, Abbas announced the formation of a committee to continue the dialogue and work towards ending divisions and achieving Palestinian national unity. He emphasized the need to return to a single state, a single system, a single law, and a single legitimate army.

Haniyeh called for the restructuring of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the umbrella institution promoting Palestinian statehood, and advocated for the formation of a new, inclusive parliament through free democratic elections.

However, Palestinian political scientist Moukhaimer Abu Saada expressed doubt about the effectiveness of this committee, stating that the formation of committees often leads to inaction. He believed that it would not make progress towards ending the division or setting a date for Palestinian elections.

The meeting took place amidst a surge of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in the West Bank, where more than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces this year alone. The discussions in El Alamein aimed to address these pressing issues and pave the way for Palestinian national unity.

The talks also highlighted the differing perspectives of Hamas and Fatah. Some Palestinians expressed disillusionment, suggesting that the talks demonstrated the wide gap between the two factions. Abbas called for peaceful popular resistance, while Haniyeh emphasized comprehensive resistance.

This meeting marks a significant step towards achieving Palestinian national unity and ending the 17-year split between Hamas and Fatah. The formation of the committee signifies a commitment to dialogue and cooperation in order to overcome divisions and work towards a unified Palestinian state.