A Hamas delegation is scheduled to meet with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Sunday to discuss ongoing Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire, which has been in effect since October but has failed to fully halt violence in the Palestinian territory.
The talks aim to address the continuation of hostilities and focus on implementing the remaining provisions of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas officials plan to urge Israel to stop all breaches of the truce, dismantle military positions within Gaza, fully reopen border crossings, facilitate increased movement of travelers, and allow a larger volume of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
In addition, Hamas is expected to advocate for the entry of a US-established Gaza administrative body composed of Palestinian technocrats to assume governance responsibilities in the territory. The delegation will also meet with representatives from other Palestinian factions in Cairo to coordinate their approach on these issues.
In a significant development, the ceasefire entered its second phase in January under a peace plan brokered by then-US President Donald Trump. This phase includes the disarmament of Hamas and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also envisions the deployment of a 20,000-strong International Stabilisation Force, with troop commitments from several countries.
While Hamas has expressed willingness to relinquish part of its arsenal, it insists this should occur within the framework of a broader Palestinian political process.
Meanwhile, violence continues to plague Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed seven people in a northern district, Gaza’s civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority. The Israeli military stated that militants had approached the so-called Yellow Line, a de facto boundary dividing Gaza into zones controlled by Israel and Hamas.
Since the ceasefire began, at least 749 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza’s health ministry. On the Israeli side, five soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza during this period.
