The Hamas movement officially announced the start of a series of intensive meetings in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with the participation of mediators and representatives of Palestinian factions. These diplomatic moves come within the framework of efforts to complete the provisions of the first phase of the agreement to cease the ongoing Israeli war of extermination on the Gaza Strip, and to pave the way for transitioning to understandings of the second phase.
Spokesperson for the movement, Hazem Qassem, clarified in a video statement that the meetings aim to formulate unified national approaches that enjoy comprehensive Palestinian consensus. He stressed that the movement, along with the mediators, seeks to establish real executive mechanisms that ensure a permanent cessation of aggression and end the suffering of the besieged residents in the Strip.
The agenda of the current meetings focuses on solidifying what has been achieved in the first phase, which previously included opening crossings and the flow of humanitarian aid. The assembled parties also seek to overcome the obstacles placed by the occupation in the way of full implementation of internationally agreed-upon humanitarian commitments.
The discussions include thorny issues related to the second phase, most notably proposals for introducing international forces into the Strip or handing over tasks to a Palestinian national committee. These discussions aim to find acceptable formulas for all parties that ensure the stability of security and field conditions in the coming phase.
Qassem indicated that dealing with the issue of Palestinian weapons represents one of the axes proposed for discussion within a vision aimed at removing the occupation's pretexts. He affirmed that the utmost priority remains protecting the interests of the Palestinian people and preventing Israel from renewing its military aggression under any flimsy pretexts.
A high-level delegation from the Hamas movement, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, had arrived in Cairo on Friday in preparation for this round of negotiations. This visit reflects the movement's desire to complete the path that began with previous meetings, the last of which was in April last year with Egyptian officials.
It is worth noting that the first phase of the agreement came into effect on October 10, 2025, and included an exchange of prisoners and a partial withdrawal of occupation forces. However, Palestinian parties accuse the Israeli side of constantly reneging on its legal and humanitarian obligations stipulated in the document.
Field reports monitored widespread Israeli violations of the existing agreement, represented by continuous shelling and ground incursions in various areas of the Strip. These violations have led to the death of about 947 martyrs and thousands of injured since the start of the supposed truce, threatening the complete collapse of the political process.
Data indicates that the occupation army still controls vast areas exceeding 60% of the Gaza Strip's territory, which violates the withdrawal provisions. Palestinian factions demand real international pressure to force the occupation to retreat to pre-aggression lines and ensure freedom of movement for residents.
The second phase of the agreement includes fundamental issues that go beyond the military aspect, foremost among them the formation of a temporary technocratic committee to manage civil affairs. This phase also includes launching a comprehensive reconstruction process for what the Israeli military machine destroyed over two years of war.
In a related context, the establishment of the 'Peace Council' and the formation of the technical committee, which has begun its temporary duties from Cairo, were announced. Intensive consultations are currently underway regarding the formation of the international force that will oversee security and ensure the implementation of the agreement's provisions on the ground.
Negotiations are clashing with complex issues that are still under discussion, most notably the disarmament file and the timetable for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The resistance adheres to a vision that ensures the occupation does not return to control the vital aspects of life in the Strip after the end of military operations.
The United Nations estimates the cost of reconstructing what the war destroyed at about 70 billion dollars, given the enormous scale of destruction that affected 90% of the infrastructure. This cost is a major challenge that requires concerted international efforts to ensure the return of normal life for millions of displaced Palestinians.
These political moves come two years after a genocidal war launched by Israel with widespread American support since October 2023. Mediators in Cairo are now seeking to transform the fragile truce into a sustainable agreement that ends the longest and most violent round of conflict the Strip has witnessed in modern times.
The meetings aim to complete what was included in the first phase, stop the aggression, open the crossings, introduce humanitarian aid, and then enter into discussions regarding the second phase.
شارك برأيك
Hamas begins crucial talks in Cairo on arrangements for the second phase of the war's cessation