Abbas in Cairo for talks with El Sisi as Palestinian factions manoeuvre for November elections

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss Gaza, the ceasefire, and Palestinian reconciliation. The meeting comes amid a rapidly shifting political landscape in Palestinian factions and uncertainty surrounding the timing of legislative elections. In his address to Abbas, El Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to the Palestinian cause and its backing for the Palestinian Authority, emphasizing that the Palestinian issue will remain central in the region until a just and comprehensive settlement is achieved.

Egypt also expressed its opposition to any displacement of Palestinians or the "liquidation" of the Palestinian cause, and pledged continued collaboration with mediators to implement the October 2025 Sharm El Sheikh peace summit ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the public warmth of the meeting contrasts with the turbulent political climate within Palestinian politics. In July, Palestinian President Abbas set November 28 as the election date for the Palestinian Legislative Council. However, Fatah's secretary general, Jibril Rajoub, recently stated that the legislative vote might not occur on time, calling for a comprehensive national dialogue to determine the conditions for holding it.

Pre-election activities have been ongoing, with factions from Fatah and the Democratic Reform Bloc convening in El Alamein for reconciliation talks in August. The Fatah delegation, led by Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh, met with Democratic Reform deputy leader Samir Al Mashharawi, who affirmed that any alliances in the upcoming elections do not target the Fatah movement or its leadership.

Additionally, meetings between Hamas and other factions, including the Democratic Reform Bloc, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian National Initiative, have been held in Cairo to explore a joint electoral list.

Hamas, in particular, has signaled its openness to forming a coalition that could include various factions and independent figures, aiming to build the broadest possible national consensus for the vote. However, the outcome of the November legislative elections remains uncertain, with Palestinian Central Elections Commission chairman Rami Hamdallah reporting that voter registration in the West Bank is above 87 percent.

Nonetheless, the ability to hold the vote at all is still in question, as President Abbas retains the power to defer or cancel the election.