Hamas delegation meets Egypt’s spy chief amid mutual ceasefire violation claims
Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been mediating between Hamas and Israel, securing the ceasefire that came into effect last month.
A senior Hamas delegation met Egypt’s intelligence chief in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the ceasefire agreement and the situation in Gaza, the group said, as both Israel and the Palestinian terror group continue to trade accusations of truce violations.
Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been mediating between Hamas and Israel, securing the ceasefire that came into effect last month.
In a statement, the group said it reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in its meeting with Egypt’s intelligence chief, but accused Israel of “continued violations” that it said threatened to undermine the deal.
Hamas, whose delegation included its exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, called for a “clear and defined mechanism” under the supervision of mediators to document and halt any breaches of the deal.
Senior official of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Abdulaziz al-Minawi, and Hamas Arab relations chief Khalil al-Hayya (R) hold a press conference during a visit to the Syrian capital Damascus on October 19, 2022. (credit: LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Fate of terrorists in tunnels also discussed
The movement said it also discussed with Egypt ways to urgently resolve the issue of Hamas terrorists in Rafah tunnels, adding that communication with them had been cut off.
Reuters reported earlier this month that mediators were trying to address the fate of a group of Hamas fighters holed up in tunnel networks in Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said the country’s military killed five senior Hamas members on Saturday after a fighter was sent into Israeli-controlled Gaza territory to attack Israeli soldiers there.
Health officials in Gaza had said Israeli air strikes killed at least 20 people on Saturday.
The military on Sunday said a local Hamas commander was among those killed in the Saturday strikes.
