Report: Hamas delegation heads to Cairo to continue Gaza truce talks on Egypt’s request

A Hamas delegation will head to Cairo tomorrow to discuss developments in efforts to secure a ceasefire in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip on the request of Egypt, according to a senior source from the terror group quoted by Al Jazeera.

The source is quoted as describing “intensive” talks between Ismail Haniyeh and the Egyptian mediators over the past few hours, during which the Qatar-based Hamas leader reiterated the terror group’s insistence on the unrestricted return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of IDF troops from the Strip as conditions for any hostage release — demands Israel has repeatedly rejected as delusional.

It is believed that 129 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a weeklong truce in late November, and four hostages were released prior to that.

Three hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 12 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military.