The statement issued from the meeting, which included representatives from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front, the Popular Front – General Command, the Democratic Reform Stream in Fatah, the National Initiative, and the Popular Resistance Committees, stated that the Israeli aggression on Gaza represents a “war of extermination and starvation” leading to massacres and destruction of infrastructure, and intentional targeting of homes, hospitals, and civilian facilities, in violation of international laws.
The factions praised the resilience and resistance of Gaza’s residents, considering them as having set an unprecedented example of sacrifice and devotion, and pledged to continue efforts to stop the war. They also commended the Egyptian role led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the Qatari role led by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in supporting the Palestinian cause, providing humanitarian aid, and mediating indirect negotiations to halt the aggression.
The factions emphasized that the top priority at this stage is to stop the ongoing aggression on the sector and to lift the siege immediately. The attendees warned of the “Judaization plan” in the West Bank, which includes complete control, displacement of residents, confiscation of land, violation of holy sites, and temporal and spatial division of the Al-Aqsa compound, stressing the necessity of urgent national plans to counter these projects, protect Palestinian and Arab presence, and thwart colonial schemes.
The forces and factions called for a meeting to establish a unified strategy to confront the occupation, achieve Palestinian unity, and work towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The statement also affirmed that what is called “Israel’s Greater Vision” mentioned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, represents an expansionist project targeting Arab national security and several countries, calling for Arab efforts to thwart it.
It is noted that Hamas announced, at the end of July, their readiness after addressing the humanitarian crisis and famine in the sector. This comes after the withdrawal of the American and Israeli delegations from the Doha negotiations following Hamas’ response to a truce and prisoner exchange proposal, where U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the response does not reflect a desire to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, Hamas expressed surprise at the negative American statements, affirming their keenness to overcome obstacles.
A joint statement from Egypt and Qatar indicated that the latest round of negotiations between Hamas and Israel saw some progress towards a ceasefire.
