Hamas delegation heads to Egypt for negotiations on second phase of ceasefire - report

Meanwhile, the IDF continues its strikes against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, with recent strikes killing a Hamas commander and the head of the Hamas-run Palestinian internal security service.Follow us on GooglePalestinian Hamas terrorists seen in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025(photo credit: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 28, 2026 19:56Updated: JULY 28, 2026 20:02A Hamas delegation headed to Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday to resume negotiations on the implementation of the next phase of its ceasefire with Israel, the terrorist group said in a Telegram post.According to the statement, the negotiation team is set to meet with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, as well as Egyptian officials and other Palestinian groups.The statement comes following a reported meeting between senior Israeli and Egyptian military officers in Cairo earlier in July, which included discussions on attempts to advance US President Donald Trump's Gaza reconstruction plans, according to KAN News.The meeting was part of a “strategic dialogue” focusing on common regional interests, KAN reported.The KAN report described Egypt as more hawkish toward Hamas compared to Turkey and Qatar, noting that the Egyptians are willing to take possession of the terrorist group's weapons if surrendered.Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)The report described the meetings as cordial, with the officials watching a World Cup match together, noting that Israeli defense officials prefer Egyptian mediators over others.IDF continues strikes against Hamas in GazaMeanwhile, the IDF continues its strikes targeting Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, with the most recent strike killing Nukhba commander Muhammad Khalil Muhammad Aslam on Monday, who had commanded a terror cell that participated in the abduction of Israelis on October 7, the military announced on Tuesday.This followed an IDF strike in Gaza on Sunday which killed Hamas commander Abd Al-Nasser Al-Aziz Maqadmeh.An additional strike on Sunday killed Wael El-Ledawi, head of the Hamas-run Palestinian internal security service, alongside an additional member, Ramez Abu Zraiq.The strikes came amid warnings from defense establishment officials that the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza could restrict the IDF's ability to freely conduct offensive operations and act against emerging terrorist cells, as well as strengthen Hamas, diplomatic and security sources told Walla on Sunday.The Security Cabinet approved in principle on Sunday the ISF's entry into Gaza, a move included in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.Reuters, Amir Bohbot, and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.Follow us on Google