Hamas: Team arrived in Cairo, met with Egyptian official, reiterated demands

The Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo for the latest rounds of talks to secure a truce and hostage release deal in Gaza, according to a statement released by the terror group.

The statement says that the Hamas team met with Egypt’s General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel, and “affirmed its adherence” to its previous demands that any hostage release be conditioned on a full ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, along with the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and an increase in humanitarian aid.

Israel has repeatedly called these demands “delusional,” and insists it will continue the war after a temporary ceasefire until it has achieved its goals of destroying Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and returning over 100 hostages held in Gaza since October 7.

“Hamas also stressed its insistence with all Palestinian forces and factions on achieving our national goals and establishing our fully sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, and the right of return and self-determination,” the Iran-backed group adds.