Talks in Cairo between Hamas and Trump's 'Peace Council' to save Gaza ceasefire

The Egyptian capital, Cairo, hosted intensive discussions earlier this week between a delegation from the Hamas movement and envoys from the 'Peace Council' headed by US President Donald Trump. These moves come in a serious attempt to maintain the cohesion of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which has been facing increasing pressure since the United States and Israel became involved in military operations against Iran.

This meeting is the first officially announced encounter between the movement and the new international council since the outbreak of the recent regional war. The Peace Council, personally overseen by Trump, aims to establish administrative and security arrangements for the Gaza Strip in the post-war phase, as part of a broader political vision that the American side seeks to establish.

Following these discussions, Israeli authorities announced on Sunday their decision to reopen the Rafah land crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip and the Arab Republic of Egypt, later this week. The crossing had been completely closed since the start of the military campaign against Iran on February 28, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Informed sources reported that the sudden Israeli decision to open the crossing came as a direct response to the outcomes of the deliberations held in Cairo between Hamas and Trump's representatives. Through this step, mediators aim to alleviate field tensions and ensure the continued flow of basic necessities through the only exit point for individuals to the outside.

For its part, Hamas issued clear warnings during the meeting, indicating the possibility of retracting previous commitments related to the ceasefire agreement. Representatives of the movement affirmed that the continuation of strict Israeli restrictions imposed on the Strip since the start of the confrontation with Iran could lead to the collapse of existing security understandings.

Trump's 20-point plan was the cornerstone of US policy in the Middle East before the conflict with Iran erupted. However, recent military developments led to the freezing of some sensitive issues, most notably the 'disarmament' of Palestinian factions, which was supposed to be discussed in advanced stages.

Aryeh Lightstone, a senior aide to Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, represented the Peace Council in these talks and was seen in Cairo in recent days. Despite official secrecy regarding the details of the meetings, US officials confirmed continued communication with regional partners to implement the provisions of the American vision for Gaza.

Reports indicate that Israel justified the closure of the crossings in the past period by the difficulty of operating them securely amidst ongoing military operations, before backtracking and allowing limited aid entry. The reopening of the Rafah crossing is expected to undergo precise security assessments to ensure that ongoing military operations on other fronts are not affected.

Additional rounds of negotiations are expected in Cairo in the coming days to complete discussions on outstanding issues between the two parties. International parties seek to prevent the Gaza Strip from sliding into a new wave of comprehensive escalation, especially given the major powers' preoccupation with the direct conflict with Tehran and its geopolitical repercussions.

Israel's announcement of opening the Rafah crossing came as a direct result of the meeting held by the Peace Council with Hamas in Cairo.