Hamas delegation arrives in Egypt to discuss progress of Gaza ceasefire, prisoner swap

A delegation of the Palestinian Hamas movement led by Muhammad Darwish, chairman of the Shura Council (Hamas advisory body), made an official visit to Cairo to discuss with Egyptian officials the details and next steps for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and prisoner exchange with Israel.

The Palestinian movement said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The meeting between the Hamas delegation and Egyptian officials is expected to review the possibilities of implementing the ceasefire agreement reached in the Gaza Strip, as well as developments related to the three-phase prisoner exchange.

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached between Hamas and Israel in Gaza went into effect on January 19 at 12:15 p.m. local time.

On January 27, Israel released 200 Palestinian detainees to the West Bank and Gaza, while 70 were deported to Egypt as part of the second batch under the agreement’s first phase. Hamas reciprocated by releasing four Israeli women soldiers.

According to Israeli Army Radio, 114 Palestinian detainees were released from Ofer Prison to Ramallah in the West Bank and 16 to Gaza, while 70 were transferred to Egypt.

Israel is currently holding more than 10,300 Palestinian prisoners, while around 96 Israeli captives are being held in the enclave.

The Hamas delegation includes senior members of its leadership council and negotiating team: Khaled Meshaal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Nizar Awadallah, Mohammed Nasser and Ghazi Hamad, according to the statement.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, suspending Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, which have killed more than 47,300 Palestinians, including some 17,841 children and 12,298 women. Another 111,472 residents of the exclave have been injured.

The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

By Khagan Isayev