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Al-Hayya heads to Cairo
Hamas political leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is travelling to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials, with Hamas sources saying he is expected to meet Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad on Sunday morning ahead of a planned Middle East visit by US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner.
“Hamas political leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is travelling to Cairo for talks”
The trip is framed by multiple outlets as part of efforts to narrow differences over a Gaza plan that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected, including a 15-point roadmap under which Hamas had agreed to hand its weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee.
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli fire killed two Palestinians and wounded 14 others on Saturday after air strikes, artillery shelling and demolitions in different parts of the strip, citing the territory’s Ministry of Health.
The same Al Jazeera report said more than 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect in October last year, with the overall death toll since October 2023 exceeding 73,300.
In parallel, i24NEWS said al-Hayya is due to meet Hassan Rashad in Cairo on Sunday in his first visit to Egypt since taking over as head of the terrorist organization in late July, and it linked the talks to the U.S. plan for Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.
Mediators, roadmap, and disputes
As the Cairo talks approach, Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim told AFP that “We continue to await pressure from the mediators and the US side on Netanyahu and his government to compel him to abide by the roadmap,” positioning the dispute as one of enforcement rather than agreement.
The Jerusalem Post described Netanyahu’s stance as a formal rejection of the 15-point plan, quoting him affirming that “the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.”
TRT World said the visit comes amid escalating disputes over executing phase two of the ceasefire agreement, with Israeli authorities rejecting the 15-point plan approved by the “Peace Council” and conditioning any military withdrawal on “genuine” disarmament of Hamas.
TRT World also said Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the agreed roadmap while Egypt stressed the necessity of implementing all provisions, led by an Israeli withdrawal and humanitarian aid access.
In the same reporting stream, TRT World added that despite the agreement, Israel continues daily violations of the ceasefire in effect since October 2025, resulting in 1,258 Palestinians killed and 4,139 wounded.
What’s at stake next
The diplomatic push is tied to the Board of Peace framework and the question of how Gaza would be governed after disarmament, with The Jerusalem Post saying Trump announced a “historic” agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza at the end of July.
“Trump announced that the Board of Peace had reached a "historic" agreement”
The Hindu reported that Kushner will visit Israel and Egypt next week to bridge gaps on a Gaza plan rejected by Netanyahu, and it said the trip would be accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Mr. Trump’s so-called Board of Peace tasked with implementing the deal.
In the background of the negotiations, Al Jazeera said Israeli attacks have continued in Gaza, and it reported that on Saturday Israeli fire killed two Palestinians and wounded 14 others after air strikes, artillery shelling and demolitions.
TRT World said Hamas maintains priorities including securing a complete ceasefire, completing the Israeli pullout, opening border crossings, delivering aid and shelter supplies, beginning reconstruction, and enabling the national committee to administer the enclave.
CGTN’s breaking-news item said a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to review consolidation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, describing the talks as aimed at consolidating the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
