Cairo: A Hamas delegation held discussions with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, followed by talks with U.S. envoy Jared Kushner, in Egypt on Sunday. Kushner, who met earlier with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aimed to advance the stalled U.S.-brokered peace plan for Gaza.
According to France24.com, the meeting focused on addressing the current impasse in the peace process. Hamas leaders reiterated their commitment to the deal, while Kushner emphasized the need for Hamas's disarmament and an end to its governance role in Gaza. The sensitive nature of the diplomatic discussions was highlighted by anonymity requests from sources familiar with the talks.
Earlier on Sunday, Kushner met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya held discussions with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. The focus was on the implementation of President Trump's post-war plan for Gaza, which has been stalled since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last October.
The ceasefire, while reducing violence, did not fully halt Israeli attacks in the strip. A newly released roadmap for the peace plan's next phase involves complex issues, including Hamas's disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories. The meeting between Kushner and Sisi underscored the importance of fulfilling obligations under the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement, as stated by presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy.
Kushner's next destination is Israel, which has publicly rejected the 15-point roadmap that Hamas had agreed to. In their meeting with Rashad, the Hamas delegation reaffirmed their commitment to implementing President Trump's plan.
Hamas had previously indicated its willingness to hand over weapons to a Palestinian technical committee, part of the roadmap announced by Trump's Board of Peace. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the plan, insisting on no withdrawal of Israeli forces until Hamas is fully disarmed.
On Sunday, foreign ministers from eight Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, condemned Israel's rejection of the roadmap. They criticized Israel for undermining the plan's implementation and efforts toward achieving lasting peace.
A Hamas official indicated that the talks covered recent developments and efforts to ensure Israel's compliance with the agreement, including the 15-point roadmap. The delegation intends to brief Egyptian officials on Israeli ceasefire violations and emphasize their readiness to implement the agreement once Israel commits to it.
Another Hamas source disclosed that a meeting is being arranged between the Hamas delegation, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov, and U.S. officials during Kushner's visit to Egypt. This meeting aims to address obstacles to the agreement, with ongoing contacts involving Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators to compel Israel to adhere to the agreement.