Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo for ceasefire and hostage deal talks

A delegation from the Palestinian movement Hamas arrived in Cairo on April 26 morning for discussions with Egyptian officials on a potential ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement from the organisation, cited by Russian media, the Hamas leadership representatives have already begun talks with their Egyptian counterparts regarding both a ceasefire and an agreement on the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of a broader deal, per Caliber.Az.

Hamas emphasised that the agreement it seeks must include a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the initiation of reconstruction efforts in the enclave.

This renewed diplomatic effort follows Hamas’s rejection earlier this month of Israel’s latest proposal for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Hamas made clear it would not accept a “partial” ceasefire, insisting instead on a “comprehensive” agreement to end the war, which began after Hamas-led militants launched a large-scale assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Negotiations have failed to achieve a breakthrough since March 18, when Israel resumed its air and ground operations against Hamas following the collapse of an earlier two-month ceasefire. That previous truce, brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, began on January 19 and had enabled increased humanitarian aid deliveries, as well as exchanges of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

However, the agreement eventually collapsed amid disputes over the framework for the next phase. Hamas continued to insist on talks aimed at achieving a permanent end to the conflict, in line with the framework announced in January by then-US President Joe Biden, which the Trump administration had also encouraged Israel to adopt.

Israel, for its part, opposed any deal that would lead to a definitive end to the war while Hamas remains a functioning force in Gaza. Israeli officials instead sought to prolong the initial terms, rejecting proposals that would permanently halt the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages.

Currently, militant groups in Gaza are holding 59 captives, including 58 of the 251 people abducted by Hamas-led attackers on October 7. Among them are the bodies of at least 35 individuals whose deaths have been confirmed by the Israel Defence Forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova