Hamas leader heads to Cairo as Gaza peace talks reach a critical juncture

[Financial News] Khalil al-Hayya, the top leader of the political bureau of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, is heading to Cairo for talks with Egypt's intelligence chief. The visit comes ahead of a planned trip to Egypt by Jared Kushner, the U.S. president's special envoy, drawing attention to discussions on a Gaza Strip peace plan.
According to foreign media reports on the 16th, al-Hayya is scheduled to meet Hassan Rashad, head of Egyptian intelligence, in Cairo local time on the same day. It is said to be his first visit to Egypt since he took over as Hamas leader at the end of last month.
Al-Hayya's visit comes ahead of Kushner's trip to Egypt. Kushner, the eldest son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to visit Israel and Egypt next week with Nickolay Mladenov, a senior representative of the Board of Peace, to discuss issues related to the Gaza Strip.
A Board of Peace official said the group hopes for "constructive dialogue" as it works to coordinate Trump's Gaza Strip peace plan, which stems from the ceasefire agreement signed in October last year.
On the 30th of last month, Trump announced that the Board of Peace and Hamas had agreed on Hamas' disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The draft proposed by the Board of Peace includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from most parts of the Gaza Strip in step with Hamas handing over its weapons.
However, the Israeli government is taking a different position from Trump, who is pressing for a swift deal. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that he will not withdraw troops until Hamas lays down all weapons, including small arms.
Netanyahu has also expressed skepticism that Hamas will actually move to disarm. Hamas, meanwhile, says it has accepted the Board of Peace's roadmap and is carrying out the terms of the agreement.
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter