Egypt and Hamas held talks in Cairo on implementing the Gaza ceasefire and putting subsequent phases into effect. Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, received the Hamas delegation on Sunday. The delegation was led by Khalil al-Hayya, head of the movement’s Political Bureau.
The sides assessed ways to complete the implementation of the decisions of the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. The Hamas delegation said it appreciated Egypt’s efforts to strengthen stability in Gaza and make the ceasefire permanent.
The delegation reiterated its commitment to implementing Trump’s plan to end the suffering of Gaza’s residents and launch the reconstruction process.
Hamas discusses developments in Gaza and the West Bank
Hamas brought political developments and the situation on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank to the table in detail. The movement said Israel was carrying out daily violations and opposing the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement and Trump’s plan.
The treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons was also discussed. Hamas described these practices as a destructive policy that must be addressed at the regional and international levels.
In addition to Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas delegation included Muhammad Darwish, head of the movement’s Shura Council; Khaled Mashal, head of the movement’s external affairs; Zaher Jabarin, who is responsible for the West Bank; Bassem Naim, head of the Bureau of Arab and Islamic Relations; and Ghazi Hamad, a member of the political leadership.
Details of the plan to implement the ceasefire
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the talks in Egypt were aimed at briefing the mediators on violations in Gaza and ensuring that the parties comply with the roadmap agreed with the Peace Council.
The Peace Council announced that a detailed roadmap had been reached on July 31, 2026, for implementing the subsequent phases of the Gaza ceasefire, and that Hamas had accepted the plan. The roadmap calls for the disarmament of Hamas and the phased, simultaneous withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The roadmap also includes transferring the administration of Gaza to a committee of Palestinian technocrats and deploying an international stabilization force. Under the plan, weapons will be placed under the responsibility of the national committee that will govern Gaza under international supervision, and the reconstruction process will begin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on August 9 that Tel Aviv had not accepted the roadmap. Netanyahu made Hamas’s disarmament a condition before Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas reiterated its commitment to implementing the roadmap after the announcement. The movement asked the mediators to ensure that all parties comply with the agreements reached and to prevent violations that could disrupt the implementation of the ceasefire.
The humanitarian toll of the Gaza ceasefire
The Gaza ceasefire agreement was reached after a two-year war that began on October 8, 2023. More than 73,000 people were killed and more than 174,000 were injured in the war, while 90 percent of civilian infrastructure was severely damaged.
The United Nations estimated the cost of rebuilding Gaza at approximately $70 billion. Ceasefire talks are continuing amid ongoing disagreements over how the subsequent phases will be implemented.
