A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo to engage in discussions regarding the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations

The General Authority for Information in Egypt announced that a delegation from the Hamas Movement arrived in Cairo on Friday. The purpose of the visit is to engage in discussions regarding the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and to push forward negotiations into their subsequent phase.

In an official statement, Egyptian authorities announced they are actively engaged in extensive dialogues with various stakeholders to expedite the progression to the second phase of the ceasefire accord. The Egyptian government is orchestrating a series of high-level meetings with Hamas leadership, alongside communications with U.S. and Qatari representatives, as part of efforts to finalize and implement the next stage of the ceasefire arrangement.

In a development reported on Friday, two Hamas officials confirmed the arrival of a delegation from the Movement in Cairo, ahead of impending talks focused on the Gaza Strip truce with Israel. One of the officials informed AFP that “a senior leadership delegation from Hamas, under the leadership of Mohammad Darwish, the acting head of the Movement, reached Cairo on Friday afternoon.” The purpose of this visit is to engage in discussions with Egyptian officials scheduled for Saturday, aimed at evaluating the latest developments, assessing the progress of the ceasefire agreement’s implementation, and initiating the second phase of the arrangement.

Following a visit by an Israeli security delegation to Cairo, discussions were held with Egyptian officials from the General Intelligence Service, as reported by Egyptian sources to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The talks centered on Egypt’s proposed strategy for governing the Gaza Strip in the coming period, alongside efforts to resume the flow of aid and relief supplies. Additionally, negotiations aimed at advancing the next phase of the ceasefire agreement were discussed, including potential strategies for securing the release of Israeli captives held by resistance forces in the Gaza Strip.

The United States has turned down an Egyptian proposal endorsed at last Tuesday’s emergency Arab summit in Cairo. The refusal underscores President Donald Trump’s firm stance on the relocation of residents from the Gaza Strip. Brian Yoo, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, stated, “The humanitarian conditions for Gaza Strip residents are untenable amid the devastation and presence of unexploded ordnance.”

According to Axios, Adam Boehler, the U.S. hostage affairs official, recently engaged in negotiations with Hamas leaders in Qatar, centering on the release of American hostage Aidan Alexander, aged 21, and the repatriation of the remains of four other captives. The discussions reportedly included contentious points about the potential number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed from Israeli incarceration in exchange for Alexander, with these terms not yet receiving approval from Israeli authorities.

Recent discussions in Cairo coincide with the approval of offensive strategies by Eyal Zamir, the newly appointed chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, following his assumption of duty on Wednesday. This move is reportedly in anticipation of potentially renewing military operations against the besieged Gaza Strip, according to reports by Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday. The publication noted that the likelihood of such an operation appears imminent and could quickly escalate beyond control once initiated. However, Haaretz highlighted doubts among military officials regarding the practicality of a large-scale offensive, alongside resistance from reserve soldiers unwilling to reengage in combat.