New Talks Between Hamas and Brokers in Cairo to Advance the Ceasefire Process in Gaza

SadaNews - Sources familiar with the negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip reported that a negotiating delegation from Hamas will hold a new round of discussions with intermediaries in Egypt on Wednesday.

A source close to Hamas told AFP that the movement and other Palestinian factions "received an invitation from Egypt to participate in the talks," noting that the intermediaries "presented ideas for a revised new proposal" to implement a ceasefire that would be "acceptable" to both Hamas and Israel.

The discussions will include Egyptian officials as well as Qatari and Turkish representatives. From the Palestinian side, representatives from Hamas, the Islamic Jihad Movement, the Popular Front, the Popular Resistance Committees, the National Initiative, and the Democratic Reformist Stream in Fatah led by Mohammed Dahlan will participate.

According to the same source, the Hamas delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, and delegations from other factions are expected to arrive in Cairo on Tuesday.

The source indicated that the intermediaries are coordinating a meeting between the Hamas delegation and the UN Special Envoy Nikolai Mladenov in Egypt, "in the coming days to discuss the transfer of management of Gaza to the National Committee and the start of reconstruction."

The source stated that "Hamas believes that a breakthrough can be achieved if Israel does not impose new obstacles."

A ceasefire was announced in the Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025, after a devastating war between Israel and Hamas that lasted more than two years. However, it remains a fragile agreement, as the strip witnesses nearly daily Israeli airstrikes that result in casualties and further destruction.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement stipulated an end to military operations, Israel's withdrawal from residential areas, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The second phase would involve the disarmament of Hamas, transferring control of Gaza to a national committee under the supervision of the Peace Council led by U.S. President Donald Trump, and the start of reconstruction.

A second informed source indicated that "Hamas and the resistance factions will not accept disarmament in the manner of the occupation."

He added that "Hamas is ready to positively engage with any proposal as long as it guarantees a comprehensive solution," and that it has "informed the intermediaries of its openness to discuss the arms file within a comprehensive agreement that does not infringe upon the rights of the Palestinian people to defend their land and establish their independent state."

A Hamas official stated that "Israel must implement all the obligations of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement before starting discussions about the second phase."

He demanded that "guarantees be provided by the intermediaries and the U.S. administration to compel Israel" to do so.

Hamas political bureau member Osama Hamdan stated in a statement issued on Monday that "linking Mladenov’s entry of the National Committee's management into Gaza with the issue of disarming the resistance represents political extortion unrelated to the terms of the agreement."

Israel has dealt harsh blows to Hamas in recent weeks by assassinating several of its high-ranking military leaders.

At least 930 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the truce, according to the health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas.