Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya departed for Cairo on Saturday evening to hold talks with Egyptian intelligence officials on key issues in the Gaza Board of Peace deal, a Hamas source told AFP. The visit comes days before US envoy Jared Kushner is expected to travel to Israel and Egypt next week to bridge gaps in the 15-point Gaza plan rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The delegation, led by the newly elected Hamas leader, is scheduled to meet with Egyptian General Intelligence Service Chief Hassan Rashad, according to Al-Araby. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency also confirmed the visit, adding that the delegation will discuss items related to the broader Palestinian issue.
Kushner-led Board of Peace Heads to Region
Kushner will be accompanied by former British prime minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump’s Board of Peace, which was tasked with implementing the deal. A Board of Peace official told the Jerusalem Post that the group hopes for constructive conversations on advancing Trump’s overall peace plan.
The plan, which began with an October 2025 ceasefire declaration that reduced but did not end Israeli strikes in Gaza, reached a further stage in late July when Hamas agreed to a phased Israeli withdrawal from much of the Strip, according to an initial version released by the Board of Peace. The latest section calls for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups.
Netanyahu Rejection Creates Impasse
The trip comes as the peace process faces its most significant test since the Board of Peace announced what it called a historic agreement at the end of July. Netanyahu has publicly rejected key elements of the deal, particularly provisions related to governance arrangements in post-war Gaza and the timeline for Israeli military withdrawal.
Hamas insists it is abiding by the deal. Bassem Naim, a Hamas political bureau member, told AFP on Friday that Hamas continues to await pressure from the mediators and the US side on Netanyahu and his government to compel him to abide by the roadmap.
The visit underscores growing urgency among regional mediators to advance the Gaza peace framework before momentum stalls entirely. Egypt has served as a key intermediary throughout the conflict, and Cairo remains one of the few channels through which Hamas can communicate with Western and Israeli officials.
The stakes are high for Kushner, who played a central role in the Abraham Accords and was personally involved in the initial Board of Peace framework. His visit will test whether the US can translate the late-July agreement into concrete progress on the ground in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
Sources: AFP; the Jerusalem Post; Anadolu Agency; Al-Araby; New Indian Express
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