Hamas says delegation arrives in Cairo for talks over Gaza ceasefire

GAZA -- Hamas said Tuesday that a delegation from its leadership arrived in Cairo on Tuesday evening to hold discussions with the Egyptian side over the Gaza ceasefire.

The delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, head of the movement in Gaza, will hold talks on completing the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire, including the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, Hamas said in a statement.

"It will also discuss accelerating the transition to the second phase, including the formation of the administrative committee and the completion of the (Israeli) occupation's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," the statement said.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions "to discuss the rapid political and field developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank," it said.

Under the terms of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, Gaza is to be administered by a transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats overseen by an international "Board of Peace." The agreement stipulates that Hamas must disarm and have no future role in the territory's formal governance.

The Rafah crossing, a key passage between Egypt and Gaza, has been mostly closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the crossing. Before that, it was the main exit for Palestinians and a key entry point for humanitarian aid. Israel previously said it would open the crossing in both directions once Hamas returns all the hostages.