Amid Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation Efforts, Palestinian Authority President Abbas Meets With Hamas Figures In Qatar, Praises Late Hamas Leader Isma'il Haniya

In early October 2024, while visiting Qatar to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit,  Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas met with two of the sons of Isma'il Haniya, the late head of Hamas’ political bureau, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 30. During the meeting Abbas praised Haniya and emphasized the unity of the Palestinian people in the struggle "to end the occupation of their land and to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." According to two Arab media outlets, during this visit Abbas also held a "positive" meeting with senior Hamas officials, including Khalil Al-Hayya, the deputy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Abbas' meeting with the Hamas officials was the first such meeting to take place since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Abbas did not attend Haniya's funeral, held in Qatar on August 2, 2024; Fatah was represented there by the movement's deputy head, Mahmoud Al-Aloul.[1]

Abbas's meetings with Hamas figures in Qatar may have been aimed at lending momentum to the reconciliation efforts between Fatah and Hamas, and at promoting a solution in the Gaza Strip that will allow the PA to gain a foothold there. Indeed, following contacts lasting more than a month and after several delays, on October 9 meetings commenced in Cairo between delegations from Fatah and Hamas, led by the movements' deputy heads: Khalil al-Hayya from Hamas and Mahmoud Al-Aloul from Fatah. According to reports in the Arab media, the main topic on the agenda of the recent reconciliation talks, alongside the reconciliation itself, was the governance of the Gaza Strip after the war or even during it.

It seems that these talks, too, have not produced understandings between the sides, because Fatah insists on establishing in the Gaza Strip a civilian governing body having no organizational ties to Hamas and subordinate to the PA and to President Abbas. Hamas, by contrast, seeks to maintain its control of Gaza and insists that the governing body must not be administratively or financially tied to the PA and, moreover, must incorporate Hamas members. According to reports, the movement has also demanded part of the income from the border crossings; in other words, it is trying to maintain sources of funding.

Although Fatah ostensibly insists that Gaza be governed by a body unconnected to Hamas, according to the Saudi daily Al-Sharq Fatah is willing to include in this body certain "civilian and policing organizations" that are affiliated with Hamas. It should be emphasized that, despite Hamas' claims that the Gaza police is a civilian body and not part of its military framework, since Hamas' 2007 takeover of the Gaza Strip, operatives and officers of the Gaza police have also been members of Hamas' military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades,  and have participated in attacks against Israel. Therefore, if  the Al-Sharq report is correct, Fatah's proposal effectively leaves Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip.

It should also be noted that the reconciliation efforts between Fatah and Hamas have been ongoing for years without significant progress. The latest attempt, prior to the most recent one, was in July 2024, when China sought to leverage its influence to facilitate a breakthrough between the sides. However, the China-brokered meeting in Beijing, on July 21-22, apparently produced no results, except to boost to China's status as a mediator in this context. Although a statement issued after this meeting indicated that the parties agreed "to establish a temporary national consensus government... that would begin the unification of all the Palestinian institutions, initiate the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and prepare for general elections,"[2] shortly after the meeting Palestinian officials declared that this statement contained nothing new and that the meeting had not achieved its objective of ending the intra-Palestinian schism.[3]

This report will review Abbas's unusual recent meetings with Hamas figures and the developments in the most recent talks between the sides.

Abbas Meets In Qatar With Haniya's Sons, Praises His "Virtues"

On October 2, 2024, during a visit to Doha to attend the Asia Cooperation Summit, PA President Mahmoud Abbas met with Abd Al-Salam and Humam Haniya, the sons of Isma'il Haniya, the late head of Hamas' political bureau, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 30. According to the PA's official news agency, in the meeting Abbas "conveyed his condolences to the sons of the national leader, the martyr [Haniya], mentioned his virtues on the path of the Palestinian national struggle and emphasized that the Palestinian people would achieve all their legitimate rights... and would continue to be united in the struggle to end the occupation of their land and to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."[4]

Abd al-Salam Haniya wrote about the meeting on his Facebook account: "Today we had the honor of meeting with President Abu Mazen, the President of the State of Palestine. He praised the virtues of the eternal leader [Isma'il Haniya] and emphasized that our people will prevail, with God's help." Abd al-Salam also shared the photos below, reflecting the warm atmosphere that prevailed in the meeting.[5]

PA President Abbas with Abd Al-Salam and Humam Haniya

PA President Abbas embraces Abd Al-Salam Haniya during their meeting

Arab Media Outlets: Abbas Held "Positive" Meeting With Hamas Political Bureau Members

According to the Sky News Arabiya channel, affiliated with the UAE, and the Rai Al-Youm news website, which supports the resistance axis of which Hamas is a part, during his visit to Qatar Abbas also met with Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and with other members of the movement's political bureau. Sky News Arabiya reported that the meeting was held in a "positive atmosphere" and "both sides agreed to support the reconciliation efforts and implement the results of the Beijing dialogue." Furthermore, there was "a significant rapprochement in the positions regarding the governance of Gaza" after the war.[6] Rai Al-Youm also referred to this meeting. On October 5 it stated, citing "high-ranking Palestinian sources," that after meeting with Hamas officials "several days ago," Abbas would meet with them again to discuss "developments in the context of the reconciliation."  

It should be noted that Hamas political bureau member Muhammed Nazzal denied that a meeting between Abbas and Hamas officials had taken place in early October. Asked by a Palestinian website whether Hamas officials had met with Abbas during the latter's visit to Qatar," Nazzal said, "There were no such meetings, [but] a dialogue with Fatah is expected to take place very soon."[7]

Report In Saudi Daily: The PA Agrees To Allow Hamas-Affiliated Civilian And Policing Bodies Take Part In Administering The Strip

Ahead of the Fatah-Hamas dialogue in Cairo, which started on October 9, Arab media reported that one of the main topics on the agenda is the administration of Gaza and who will be in charge of the administering bodies. According to Sky News Arabiya, the sides are to discuss the formation of "a national committee for the administration of the Gaza Strip," to be established by presidential decree and comprising "activists and national organizations" as well as "civil society" representatives.[8]

"Palestinian officials" told the Saudi daily Al-Sharq on September 16 that the sides would discuss the establishment of bodies to manage the Gaza Strip during and after the war. According to the report, Fatah insists that any governing body established in Gaza must be subordinate to the "Palestinian political legitimacy" and founded by presidential decree, i.e., subordinate to the PA and to its president Mahmoud Abbas. However, the report also stated that "the PA has indicated a willingness for Hamas' civilian and policing bodies [to be part of] the new administration, while expressing reservations regarding Hamas' security apparatuses, on which Israel declared war."[9]

It should be emphasized that the "civilian and policing bodies" in the Gaza Strip are subordinate to Hamas and loyal to it; therefore, their inclusion in the governing body means that Hamas will continue to de facto control the Strip. Moreover, Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, uses equipment of the Gaza police, and officials and operatives of Gaza's "civilian"  police have simultaneously belonged to the Al-Qassam Brigades, and have even led combat units engaged in operations against Israel. For example, Faiq Al-Mabhouh, head of the Gaza police operations unit – who was involved in Hamas' takeover of aid entering Gaza, with the knowledge and cooperation of UNRWA, and was killed by Israel in March 2024 – was also a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades and participated in attacks against IDF forces.[10]

Hence, the PA's consent to let Hamas' police force take part in administering the Strip after the war will essentially allow this movement and its military apparatuses to continue operating in the Strip and controlling it.

Significant Gaps Between The Sides: Hamas Opposes PA Control Of Gaza

Despite the efforts, it seems that the latest meetings between the sides in Cairo yielded no significant results. Sky News Arabia reported after the meetings that no progress had been made on the mechanism for governing the Strip in the present stage or on the preparations for the day after the war and the rebuilding of Gaza. According to the report, Hamas insists that the committee managing the Strip will be independent of the PA, both administratively and financially. A Fatah source told the channel that Hamas demands to be part of this committee and also to receive part of the revenues from the border crossings.[11]  

In spite of the reports on a "positive atmosphere" in the meetings between Abbas and the Hamas figures in Qatar, Rai Al-Youm accused Fatah of inflexibility in the contacts with Hamas even before the commencement of the Cairo talks on October 9. The website reported that, in the discussions leading up to these talks, the PA had not presented any concessions or new proposals that could lead to progress.[12]

However, assuming the Sky News Arabiya report is correct there may have been some movement in Hamas' position. Before the talks, Hamas apparently sought the establishment of a new Palestinian government that would control both the West Bank and Gaza, whereas now, according to Sky News Arabiya, it agrees to the establishment of a committee to manage Gaza (as long as it is independent of the PA and includes Hamas representatives).  

Before the Cairo talks, Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Mardawi said that the political vision for the day after the war must include "a government made up of the factions [i.e., including Hamas] that will [also] oversee the governance of the Gaza Strip and the [border] crossings," one of whose tasks will be to prepare for elections in the West Bank and Gaza to determine who represents the Palestinian people and who will oversee this sensitive period. During the Cairo dialogue, a Hamas official emphasized to the daily Al-Arabi Al-Jadid that the movement opposed the establishment of a committee to manage Gaza and demanded the formation of a national government comprising "individuals from all the Palestinian political groups who are experienced and [widely] supported." Taher Al-Nounou, communications advisor to Hamas political bureau chief Sinwar, stated that Hamas is open to "a government of technocrats established by decree of the PA President."[13]

In contrast, PA Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa stated that "the only legitimate [elements] that can govern Palestine are the Palestinian state and the PLO. The PA will manage the Gaza Strip in a way that includes all the components of the Palestinian people..."[14]

Rai Al-Youm News Site: Arab States Are Talkin With Hamas About "The Day After" The Gaza War; Hamas Refuses To Discuss Its Disarmament

Alongside the attempts to renew the reconciliation dialogue between Fatah and Hamas, which is also meant to address issues related to the governance of the Gaza Strip, the Biden administration has reportedly asked Egypt to engage in talks and consultations with Hamas in order to draft a document regarding the future of Gaza and its governance. Other countries, including Qatar, the UAE and Jordan, are also apparently engaged in contacts with Hamas.

According to the report, posted by Rai Al-Youm, the Hamas political leadership is "showing flexibility" concerning initiatives related to a ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the establishment of an administration agreed-upon by Palestinian, regional and international actors for managing the transitional phase.

The report noted further that Hamas agrees to "a ministerial technocrat team" that will be in charge of rebuilding Gaza and managing the humanitarian aid, "even alongside a security team about which there can be understandings." However, the report emphasized that Hamas is not prepared to discuss or negotiate the disarmament of the resistance or the dismantling of the military brigades.[15]