CAIRO—In a significant diplomatic move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt on Sunday to take part in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), following an invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The forum, taking place in Cairo, aims to address pressing urban development issues, particularly the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Accompanying Abbas are key figures from the Palestinian leadership, including Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Major General Majed Faraj, head of the General Intelligence Service, and Chief Justice of Palestine, among others. Their presence underscores the importance of this gathering not just for Palestinian affairs but for broader regional discussions.
WUF12 will host a series of events focused on innovative local strategies to tackle the challenges of urbanization, ensuring a higher quality of life for all citizens. This forum comes at a pivotal moment, as it coincides with ongoing talks between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas in Cairo, which aim to establish a community support committee to govern the Gaza Strip in the wake of recent conflicts.
An official source indicated that both factions are displaying increased flexibility and positivity toward this initiative, which would be under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and include independent figures. The establishment of this committee, expected to be formalized by a presidential decree from Abbas, marks a hopeful step in uniting Palestinian governance.
As Abbas engages in dialogue at WUF12, the outcomes of both the forum and the discussions among Palestinian factions could have lasting implications for the region’s future.
