Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya is traveling to Cairo for discussions with Egyptian officials, marking his first visit to the country since assuming leadership in late July. According to Hamas sources, al-Hayya is scheduled to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad on Sunday morning to discuss ongoing negotiations.
The Cairo talks precede a planned Middle East visit by Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law, who will travel to Israel and Egypt next week. Kushner’s trip aims to address disagreements regarding a Gaza settlement proposal that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, is expected to accompany Kushner on the visit.
The diplomatic efforts follow Netanyahu’s public rejection of a 15-point plan under which Hamas had previously agreed to surrender its weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee. Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim stated on Friday that the organization continues to seek pressure from mediators and US officials on Netanyahu’s government to ensure compliance with the proposed roadmap.
Meanwhile, military operations in Gaza continue. Israeli forces conducted air strikes, artillery shelling, and demolitions across various areas of the strip on Saturday, resulting in two Palestinian deaths and 14 wounded, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Palestinian officials report that more than 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since a ceasefire began in October last year, with the overall death toll since October 2023 exceeding 73,300.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced this week that troops would maintain positions in occupied security zones in Lebanon and Syria, indicating a continued Israeli military presence across multiple fronts in the region.
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