Egypt ends 10-year dispute between Fatah and Hamas: analysis

CAIRO – 18 September 2017:The Egyptian authorities have succeeded in ending the 10-year dispute between Fatah and Hamas, thereby proving Egypt’s indispensable role in the Palestinian Reconciliation, and reaffirming its continued efforts to contact all Palestinian factions to serve the public interest.

The Hamas movement announced on Sunday the dissolving of the administrative committee at the Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed with Fatah in 2011.

The Social Reconciliation Accord in Cairo aimed to restore unity among Palestinian political actors in 2011, following four years of conflict since 2007. It was inked by the Egyptian authority in 2009, and was accepted by the two parties in May 2011 following Palestinian demonstrations.

For his part, Egyptian political science professor, Moataz Abdel-Fattah, stated to Egypt Today that the Statement of Hamas today cut off the arms of Qatar, Iran and Turkey from our north-east borders, in addition to serving a blow to terrorism in northeastern Sinai.

“Hamas’ statement is a message to the U.S. Congress that Egypt might stumble due to unforeseen circumstances, but return to lead which means that our intelligence and our apparatuses have a project for the region that stands against the competing projects. It is also a blow to Israel, which has long protested that "Abbas" is weak, Hamas is terrorist, Egypt is busy, and Syria has committed suicide,” said Abdel-Fattah.

He added that Hamas’ statement comes with the presence of our presidential delegation in the house of snakes to convey to the world who we are and what we want for our region and the world.

Also Tarek Fahmy, professor of political science, stated to Egypt Today that the Egyptian move from the beginning was for the purpose of securing Egyptian borders and Egyptian national security, as well as providing facilities to the strip with its residents and citizens, especially for the expansion of the bonds of families.

Fahmy added that contacts and meetings between the Egyptian and Palestinian sides continued calmly, in a completely different manner than what happened in Egypt in the previous Cairo dialogues.

Egypt received delegations from various Palestinian factions, with the aim to unify trends, and bring the views of all factions together, especially between Fatah and Hamas.

“I have written frequently reminding everyone that the doors of Cairo are open to all, and all factions must realize that only Egypt can unite and not divide. The Qatari, Turkish or Iranian option for some factions, especially Fatah, was not a transitory station to try to emphasize the existence of the alternative to Egypt but is a failed option from the beginning,” said Fahmy to Egypt Today.

He pointed out that Egypt has had many confrontations before reaching the point of pushing Hamas to accept decisions that will not stop when the administrative committee is dissolved, as some thought would happen, after Hamas’ leaders responded to the Egyptian proposal.


Fatah leaders’ response to the Egyptian proposal will have an impact in the foreseeable future, adding that the issue is deeper and greater than the opening and closing of the crossing. The issue involves a set of measures that Cairo is seeking to approve that extend the functions of the Palestinian Authority and the government to the Strip, read Fahmy.

“Cairo has strong relations with some leaders such as Muhammad Dahlan, a center of gravity whose pivotal role cannot be disregarded or his essentiality in any future arrangements, on the other hand, we have close relations with the other leaders of Jihad, the Popular and Democratic Movement as well, stressing that Egypt coordinated with all Palestinian factions,” added Fahmy.

He concluded his comment with saying that Egypt has and will continue to bear more. He stressed that this is their “choice” and their “destiny” and that it is for their security and national commitment to the Palestinian people.