IDF strikes in Deir al-Balah
Sources familiar with the matter told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar that Hamas leadership clarified remarks by al-Hayya that had sparked anger in Cairo. Proposals regarding the war and negotiations were also discussed amid mediation efforts in Doha, Cairo and Ankara, aimed at advancing a comprehensive deal that would end the war and include, at Israel’s insistence, disarmament of resistance groups.
An Egyptian source told Al-Akhbar that the Hamas delegation showed flexibility on deploying international and Arab forces in Gaza, establishing a local police force and possibly a transitional technocratic administration led by Palestinian businessman Samir Halila. Cairo currently accepts that resistance groups retain their weapons, with international forces and factions required to observe a ceasefire. Egyptian intelligence also presented a two-stage initiative: a hostage and prisoner swap deal, followed by a mechanism to guarantee Gaza’s security.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya
(Photo: Bashar Taleb/AFP; Martin Sylvest/RITZAU Scanpix/AFP; Khaled Desouki/AFP; IDF Spokesperson’s Unit; Yair Shagai; Yuval Chen; REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein; Khalil Hamra/AP; Hassan Ammar)
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled a focus on a comprehensive deal, avoiding questions on partial agreements. He instructed the IDF to accelerate the capture of Gaza City to end the war, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for a rapid resolution. Netanyahu pledged to secure the release of “all 20” living hostages but did not address hostages who have died.
