Hamas envoy arrives in Cairo for new ceasefire, prisoner swap talks with Israel
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrived on Sunday in Cairo, ahead of a new round of indirect negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the talks as successful and progressing rapidly, with technical teams from various parties expected to meet in Egypt in the coming days to finalize the details of the deal.
According to AFP, a Hamas official stated that the indirect negotiations would focus on mechanisms for implementing a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the exchange of prisoners.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Hamas is demanding the release of its elite fighters who were involved in operations inside Israel and arrested in recent months.
The group has proposed that prisoner releases be based on the length of sentences rather than the severity of charges.
The channel noted that the demand for the release of elite fighters remains a major sticking point, with Israel rejecting it as a “red line” that has never been crossed in previous agreements.
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to several rounds of negotiations over the years, with intermittent ceasefires followed by renewed violence.
The issue of prisoners, particularly the release of high-profile Hamas militants, has consistently been a point of contention. Previous agreements have seen the release of lower-level detainees, but Israel has maintained a strict policy against releasing its most dangerous prisoners, fearing it would embolden militant groups.
The latest round of talks, brokered in part by Egypt, is seen as a crucial attempt to break the deadlock and establish a longer-lasting ceasefire, although significant challenges remain, particularly regarding the release of Hamas fighters.