Jerusalem, Palestine – Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that a delegation from the movement’s leadership met in Cairo with the head of Egyptian General Intelligence.
The meeting addressed developments in the ceasefire agreement and the general situation in Gaza,
and discussed the nature of the second phase of the agreement.
She added that the delegation affirmed the movement’s commitment
to implementing the first phase of the agreement.
He stressed the importance of stopping the occupation’s ongoing violations,
which threaten to undermine the agreement.
This is done through a clear and specific mechanism,
sponsored and monitored by intermediaries.
And to take the necessary measures to stop
any violations immediately
And to prevent unilateral actions
that escalate matters
and damage the agreement.”
Cairo…the main mediator
Negotiations between Hamas and Egyptian General Intelligence have witnessed
a long course of continuous contacts over the past years.
Cairo played the role of the main mediator in most of the de-escalation
agreements between Hamas and Israel.
In addition to the humanitarian and security files related to the Gaza Strip.
The beginning of this path dates back to before 2011,
when contacts were limited to arrangements for the Rafah crossing and border control.
With the political changes that Egypt witnessed afterward,
the scope of the dialogue expanded to include de-escalation.
Palestinian reconciliation, and easing restrictions on the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Intensive meetings
After 2013, relations witnessed a noticeable tension against the backdrop
of accusations related to the security situation in Sinai.
However, negotiations did not break down.
Hamas delegations continued to visit Cairo to discuss security
arrangements on the border and rebuild trust.
In 2017, a major shift occurred after a series of intensive meetings
during which Hamas agreed to joint security measures.
This paved the way for Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation agreements
and successive rounds of truce between the movement and Israel.
During the escalations of 2021 and 2024, Egyptian intelligence led efforts to establish
a ceasefire and negotiate the issues of prisoners, aid, and reconstruction.
This has cemented Cairo’s role as an essential and indispensable
mediator in any arrangements concerning Gaza.
