Palestinian factions start 'national dialogue', US appoints diplomat to monitor ceasefire

Palestinian factions, including Hamas, met in Cairo to begin a "national dialogue" regarding the future governance of Gaza and a Palestinian state. The groups agreed to work towards unifying their positions and activating the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole representative of the Palestinian people. As an interim measure, the factions agreed to cede power to a temporary committee of independent technocrats from Gaza to manage daily services. The joint statement also called for a United Nations force to monitor the ceasefire and rejected all forms of annexation or displacement.