First Round of Hamas–Mediator Talks in Egypt Concludes

According to Rokna, Al Jazeera quoted informed sources as saying that the initial meeting between the Hamas delegation and the mediators in Sharm el-Sheikh ended on a generally positive note. The sources added that the roadmap and mechanisms for the current phase of the talks were defined during the session.

Al Jazeera further reported that the Hamas delegation emphasized in the meeting that Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza constitute a significant obstacle to any progress in negotiations over the release of Israeli prisoners, identifying this as one of the core challenges facing the talks.

The network added that both sides reached preliminary understandings regarding the next stages of the negotiations and their implementation frameworks.

According to Al Jazeera, senior Hamas officials Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin participated in the session. Both men previously survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha that reportedly targeted them for assassination.

As part of broader efforts to end the war in Gaza, a delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), led by Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to take part in indirect talks with Israel under Egyptian and Qatari mediation.

The objective of these talks is to achieve a ceasefire, secure the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, and facilitate a prisoner-exchange deal.

Egyptian sources stated that the negotiations are being held within the framework of a proposal advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan reportedly includes a ceasefire, the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours of Tel Aviv’s approval, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The talks are being monitored by a central operations room headed by Hassan Rashad, chief of Egypt’s intelligence service.

According to Cairo News Network, Egypt is working to bridge technical gaps between the parties and pave the way toward a comprehensive agreement, expected to be finalized at a concluding session later this week.

Informed sources added that Hamas has expressed its readiness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats, to be formed by consensus among Palestinian factions and supported by Arab and Islamic countries.

Hamas reiterated that the future of Gaza and the rights of the Palestinian people must be addressed solely within a comprehensive Palestinian framework.