RAMALLAH, September 16, 2026 (WAFA) — President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a summit meeting on Wednesday at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo to discuss the latest developments concerning the Palestinian cause, as well as a number of Arab and international issues of mutual interest.
President Abbas praised Egypt’s steadfast positions, under President al-Sisi’s leadership, in support of the Palestinian cause and in defense of the Palestinian people’s rights at international forums. He also commended Egypt’s efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip, achieve de-escalation and stability in the region, facilitate the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into Gaza, and receive wounded Palestinians.
He reiterated his rejection of any infringement on the unity of Palestinian territory or the sovereign institutions of the State of Palestine, stressing that “Gaza is an integral part of our state, that there is no alternative to Palestinian legitimacy, and that we will not allow the Strip to be separated from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
President Abbas briefed his Egyptian counterpart on the dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, as a result of settlement expansion, colonist violence, annexation, killings, detentions, demolitions, land seizures, and attacks targeting Islamic and Christian holy sites.
He warned against Israel’s continued unilateral policies and measures aimed at imposing facts on the ground, most recently the implementation of the E1 settlement plan, which seeks to separate the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, isolate East Jerusalem from its surroundings, and undermine the remaining prospects for achieving the two-state solution and establishing the State of Palestine on the ground.
President Abbas stressed the need to protect Islamic and Christian holy sites and preserve their historical and legal status, rejecting all attacks and measures targeting them or restricting freedom of access and the right to perform religious rites there.
On the political and international front, Abbas and al-Sisi discussed ways to protect the two-state solution and translate the international consensus around this principle into practical steps to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
Abbas also addressed the difficult economic conditions facing the State of Palestine as a result of Israel’s continued withholding of more than $6 billion in Palestinian tax revenues, along with measures aimed at undermining the institutions of the Palestinian Authority, weakening Palestinians’ ability to remain and withstand pressure, and pushing them toward emigration.
On the domestic front, President Abbas briefed his Egyptian counterpart on the government’s achievements in implementing the national reform program. He affirmed that work would continue to renew national legitimacy through elections.
A formal reception ceremony was held for President Abbas at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, with President al-Sisi among those receiving him.
The meeting was attended by Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee Hussein al-Sheikh; Chairman of the Palestinian National Council Rawhi Fattouh; Fatah Central Committee member and Director of the General Intelligence Service Majed Faraj; Presidential Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi al-Khaldi; and Acting Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Naji al-Naji.
President Abbas arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a two-day official visit as part of ongoing consultation and coordination between the Palestinian and Egyptian leaderships.
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