The ousted Hamas-led government has been excluded from the meetings. As the talks began, more than 100,000 people rallied in Gaza in a show of opposition. In a televised speech, dismissed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Hamas would not accept a deal abandoning Palestinian rights.

Ismail Haniyeh: “Any concessions to be made by the Palestinian negotiating team that harms the constant rights of our people will not be binding to our people, and the coming generations will bear no responsibility or obligation toward these concessions.”