Gaza peace plan: Hamas political chief meets Egypt’s intelligence chief

Sunday 16 - 13:30

By: Sahili Aya

Gaza peace plan: Hamas political chief meets Egypt’s intelligence chief

A senior Hamas delegation has begun talks with Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rachad as diplomatic efforts intensify around a US-backed roadmap aimed at advancing a political and security framework for Gaza.

The meeting, held Sunday in El-Alamein on Egypt’s northern coast, brings together Hamas officials and one of Cairo’s key interlocutors on the conflict at a sensitive stage in negotiations over the future of the Gaza Strip.

Khalil al-Hayya leads Hamas delegation

The Hamas delegation is headed by Khalil al-Hayya, the movement’s newly appointed political chief. The visit marks his first trip to Egypt since taking up the position at the end of July.

According to a Hamas official quoted by AFP, the discussions are focused on ways to advance the implementation of the US roadmap and address what the movement describes as Israeli violations of the existing ceasefire agreement.

Hamas is expected to brief Egyptian officials on developments surrounding the agreement and reiterate its position that it is prepared to move forward with implementation if Israel commits to the terms.

A 15-point roadmap at the center of talks

The discussions revolve around a 15-point US roadmap presented as a mechanism for moving toward the next phase of a broader plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Hamas agreed to the roadmap at the end of July. Among its most consequential provisions are the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Israel has rejected the proposed roadmap, leaving a significant gap between the positions of the two sides.

The disagreement over implementation has placed Egypt once again at the center of diplomatic efforts. Cairo has played a longstanding role in negotiations involving Gaza and has maintained channels with the parties involved in attempts to secure and sustain ceasefires.

Hamas calls for implementation

The Hamas official said the delegation would seek Egyptian support in pressing Israel to comply with the agreement and begin putting the roadmap into effect.

Hamas also intends to emphasize what it describes as its own commitment to the deal. According to the official, the movement is prepared to implement the agreement once Israel publicly confirms that it will abide by its provisions.

The talks therefore face a fundamental obstacle: while Hamas says it has accepted the proposed framework, Israel has not endorsed it.

Egypt’s diplomatic role

The meeting underscores Egypt’s continuing importance as an intermediary in efforts to contain the Gaza conflict and establish a framework for its eventual resolution.

For Cairo, maintaining communication with Hamas while engaging with other regional and international actors provides a channel through which disagreements over ceasefire arrangements and the next phase of the conflict can be addressed.

The outcome of the El-Alamein discussions could help determine whether the US roadmap gains enough diplomatic momentum to move beyond its current impasse, particularly on the central questions of disarmament, Israeli withdrawal and the implementation of ceasefire commitments.