Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has acknowledged the existence of serious differences between the Palestinian movement Hamas and other factions, as he spoke on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Shoukry stated, "I believe that Hamas is outside the recognized majority of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)." He further added that while the PNA and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are seeking a negotiated solution to disputes, Hamas is not willing to abandon "a policy of violent action." "I think this aspect of the problem has not been given due attention until now, but it needs to be discussed," he concluded.
Disagreements among Palestinian factions have been evident over the past decade. Representatives of various movements have met periodically to unite, with the last such meeting occurring on July 30, 2023, in Al-Alamein, Egypt. The Palestinian groups Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command boycotted the talks. Following the meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas proposed forming a special committee to finalize discussions on disputed issues and resolve differences between Palestinians. However, the escalation in the Gaza Strip that began soon afterward hindered the realization of these plans.
On February 16, Russian Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov informed TASS that a meeting between representatives of several Palestinian factions would be held in Moscow between February 29 and March 1-2. Two days later, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said at the Munich conference that the upcoming inter-Palestinian meeting would demonstrate Hamas's serious intent to cooperate with Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and act within the PLO framework. Shtayyeh also noted that, in his view, "Hamas is part of the Palestinian movement, an integral part of the Palestinian people."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS