Khalil al-Hayya leads Hamas ceasefire delegation to Cairo after surviving Israeli strike

Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Sunday to lead a major delegation for indirect negotiations with Israel and intra-Palestinian talks, in what Egyptian and foreign diplomats described as the most significant diplomatic push since the start of the war.

It marks al-Hayya’s first public mission since surviving an Israeli airstrike on Doha last month that targeted Hamas's political leadership during a meeting of the movement's negotiating team. The strike, which was a failed Israeli assassination attempt aimed at derailing mediation efforts, killed his son and several aides.

Al-Hayya will head an expanded delegation tasked with a dual mission: indirect negotiations with Israel on a prisoner exchange and inter-Palestinian discussions on ending internal division.

The delegation is expected to divide into two teams, with one focusing on "negotiations over prisoners and ending the war" and the other joining talks "aimed at unifying the Palestinian ranks".

A Hamas source told The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the initial round will address the release of Israeli prisoners and related guarantees, while Hamas will also present a demand to mediators for a ceasefire to take effect at the start of the negotiations.

The source added that Hamas "remains opposed to any international administration of the Gaza Strip," saying this position enjoys Arab support. He pointed to "an Arab decision regarding Palestinian governance and a commitment to the support committee that received backing from the Arab League".

The talks coincide with a broader diplomatic effort in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, where Israeli negotiators and international envoys have gathered for discussions on implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s roadmap for Gaza.

Netanyahu confirmed on Saturday that he had instructed Israel’s negotiating team "to finalise the technical details" of a potential exchange deal. The White House said Trump has dispatched his son-in-law, Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to Egypt to assist in the process.

"Hamas is very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner-exchange process in accordance with the field conditions," a senior Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Al Arabiya Net reported that Egypt had begun constructing the largest camp for displaced Gazans in the central Gaza Strip, near Nuseirat and Al-Bureij.

Citing Egyptian officials, the outlet said dozens of bulldozers have entered the area to establish temporary shelters for families displaced from northern Gaza.

The sources told Al Arabiya Net that the project aims "to ease the suffering of displaced people in Gaza and ensure Palestinians remain on their land," noting that additional temporary camps are being prepared.

Egyptian officials said the effort comes as part of Cairo’s role in stabilising the Strip and preventing further displacement amid continued fighting.

The Sharm El-Sheikh talks are expected to cover the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, preliminary release lists, and the mechanisms for monitoring a ceasefire.

Egyptian sources said the discussions would also address Israel’s gradual withdrawal from populated areas in Gaza and the framework for postwar governance.

Hamas announced on Friday that it had accepted in principle the Trump administration’s proposal for the release of all Israeli captives, both living and deceased, and expressed readiness to "immediately enter negotiations to discuss the details".

It said Gaza’s administration could be handed to a council of independent figures but stressed that further talks would be needed on "the future of the Strip".

Trump said on the same day that Hamas appeared "ready for lasting peace" and urged Israel "to halt the bombing of Gaza immediately so that we can secure the release of the hostages quickly and safely".