Hamas political leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is heading to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for talks on a possible ceasefire in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue.
According to Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Anadolu Agency, al-Hayya is expected to visit Egypt for the first time since taking over the leadership of Hamas in late July. He is scheduled to meet Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s intelligence service, on Sunday morning.
The visit comes as regional and international efforts intensify to narrow differences over a proposed plan for Gaza. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy Jared Kushner is also expected to visit Israel and Egypt next week.
Kushner’s trip is aimed at reducing differences between Israel and other parties over Trump’s Gaza plan. He will be accompanied by Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s senior representative for Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected the proposed 15-point plan put forward by the Board of Peace. Under the proposal, Hamas had agreed to transfer its weapons to a new Palestinian administrative body.
Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim said the group was waiting for pressure from the mediators and the United States to compel Netanyahu and his government to implement the plan.
“We are waiting for pressure from the mediators and the United States to force Netanyahu and his government to abide by the plan,” Naim said.
Israeli Attacks Continue Amid Ceasefire Efforts
Diplomatic efforts are continuing while Israeli military operations in Gaza persist.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, two Palestinians were killed and 14 others injured in Israeli airstrikes, shelling and the destruction of various structures on Saturday.
Palestinian government sources claim that more than 1,250 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect in October last year.
The overall death toll in Gaza from the conflict that began in October 2023 has meanwhile surpassed 73,300, according to Palestinian sources.
The latest diplomatic moves come amid continued disagreements over the future governance and security arrangements in Gaza, with mediators seeking to bridge differences between the parties and revive efforts toward a lasting ceasefire.
Source: Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Anadolu Agency.