Egypt brokers peace between Fatah and Hamas: Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah reached a reconciliation agreement during talks in Cairo last week, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Thursday, according to Reuters. Under the terms of the pact, Hamas and Fatah agreed to complete the handover of administrative control of Gaza to a unity government by 1 December. The two sides will be in Cairo on 21 November for more talks. Bloomberg notes that there was “no indication that an understanding had been reached on the fate of Hamas’s armed wing, a sticking point which analysts have said could yet scupper reconciliation efforts.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Palestinian accord must abide by international agreements, including recognizing Israel and disarming Hamas, Reuters reports. Bloomberg’s Eli Lake says there is more to these statements than meets the eye, as Israel has been in the loop since talks first started and had displayed no objections. On the flipside, sources tell Asharq Al Awsat that US and Egyptian diplomats have asked Israel not to sabotage the agreement.
…Also finding peace in Cairo on Thursday were Syrian factions that reached a ceasefire agreement in Southern Damascus, Ahram Gate reports. The Associated Press has more.