Monday, 25 May 2026
Palestinian factions in Cairo agree on Gaza ceasefire steps and unity plan
Several major Palestinian factions held a pivotal meeting in Cairo on October 23-24, 2025, at the invitation of the Egyptian government and with the auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The gathering comes amid continued efforts by Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators to secure an end to the Gaza war and address its aftermath, building on the momentum of the recent “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit” earlier in October.
In a statement, participants opened by expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and in exile, honoring the sacrifices of “martyrs, prisoners, and the wounded,” and reiterating the need to alleviate suffering and work toward a brighter future.
The factions expressed appreciation for Arab, Islamic, and international efforts toward peace, including those undertaken by US President Trump regarding the war in Gaza. They stressed the urgent need for unified Palestinian political vision and rejection of all forms of annexation and displacement in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The factions jointly condemned recent moves by the Israeli Knesset toward applying Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank, calling it a “serious assault” on Palestinian identity and existence. The statement welcomed US intervention to halt these actions, and underlined that national unity is the strongest response to such measures.
Key outcomes from the meeting included:
1. Support for Continuous Ceasefire: The factions pledged to uphold and enforce the ceasefire, which includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, ending the blockade, opening all border crossings including Rafah, ensuring delivery of humanitarian aid and medical supplies, and the launch of a comprehensive reconstruction effort.
2. Temporary Gaza Administration: Agreement was reached to transfer administration of Gaza to a temporary, independent Palestinian technocratic committee drawn from local professionals. This body will oversee day-to-day life and essential services in coordination with Arab partners and international organizations, ensuring transparency and accountability. An international committee will supervise the funding and progress of Gaza’s reconstruction, while affirming Palestinian political unity and independence.
3. Security and Peacekeeping: The factions called for all necessary measures to secure stability throughout Gaza and advocated for a United Nations resolution to deploy a temporary international peacekeeping force to monitor the ceasefire’s implementation.
4. Protection of Prisoners’ Rights: The meeting demanded an immediate end to mistreatment and torture of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and called for Israel to abide by international legal agreements. The factions declared the release and protection of prisoners as a top priority.
5. Toward a Unified National Strategy: The factions committed to ongoing collaboration to unify political positions and strategies, urging for an urgent comprehensive national conference under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), acknowledged as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, to reshape and strengthen Palestinian national unity.
The final statement described the current moment as “critical and decisive,” pledging to turn the Cairo meeting into a genuine milestone for Palestinian unity, defending the people’s rights, dignity, and the Palestinian cause for self-determination, statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of refugees to return.
Factions present expressed their gratitude to Egypt, President el-Sisi, and mediators for their continued support and efforts to advance the cause of peace in Palestine.