A Hamas delegation headed by senior official Khalil al Hayya arrived in Cairo late on Saturday for talks on the latest Israeli escalation in Gaza [Getty]
A Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo late on Saturday to discuss the latest Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip and review steps required to move into the second phase of the ceasefire agreement reached in Sharm el Sheikh on 10 October.
The visit came as both Israel and Hamas continued to trade accusations of violating the month-old truce.
An Egyptian security source and a Hamas official confirmed that the delegation was in Cairo on Sunday to meet mediators involved in the Gaza ceasefire talks.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been brokering negotiations between Hamas and Israel since the truce took effect.
A senior Hamas figure said the delegation would raise Israel’s “continued violation of the ceasefire agreement”, alongside other key files.
These include the situation of Hamas fighters trapped behind the so-called yellow line in Rafah, the movement’s objections to what it sees as repeated Israeli breaches of the Sharm el Sheikh deal, and outstanding provisions such as reopening the Rafah crossing to allow stranded Palestinians to return and to transfer the wounded out of Gaza.
The discussions are also expected to cover the recovery of the remaining Israeli bodies in Gaza, a process coordinated between Egypt, Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
According to a Hamas source, the aim is to eliminate Israeli pretexts for further unilateral action and help pave the way for the second phase of the ceasefire.
Talks with Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad will also examine issues linked to the planned international force to be established under the agreement, including its composition and mandate inside Gaza.
The Cairo meetings follow a surge in violence over the weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the army had killed five senior Hamas members after a fighter allegedly crossed into Israeli-controlled territory in Gaza and opened fire on soldiers.
Gaza health officials said at least 20 people were killed in Israeli air strikes the same day, while the Israeli military said a local Hamas commander was among the dead.
Hamas late on Saturday rejected Israeli reports claiming the group had informed US envoy Steve Witkoff that the ceasefire had “expired”.
Political bureau member Izzat al-Rishq said the claims were false and called on mediators and the US administration to press Israel to comply with the terms of the agreement.
He also urged Israel to disclose the identity of the gunman it accuses Hamas of dispatching to attack its forces.
