Hamas Chief Al-Hayya Heads to Cairo Ahead of Kushner Visit

Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya is heading to Cairo for urgent talks with Gaza ahead of Jared Kushner's upcoming visit. This move comes as tensions remain high along the border. Hamas sources say al-Hayya, who took leadership in late July, will meet Egyptian intelligence head Hassan Rashad this Sunday morning. The meeting follows a planned trip by US President Donald Trump's envoy to the region.

Kushner intends to travel to both Israel and Egypt next week. His goal is to narrow the gap over a Gaza plan that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already rejected. Kushner will be joined by Nickolay Mladenov, who serves as high representative for Gaza under the Board of Peace. The dismissal happened last Sunday when Netanyahu stated Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas was genuinely disarmed.

"We continue to await pressure from the mediators and the US side on Netanyahu and his government to compel him to abide by the roadmap," Basem Naim told AFP on Friday. Naim works with the political bureau of Hamas. Meanwhile, violence persists in Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli fire killed two Palestinians and wounded fourteen others after airstrikes, artillery shelling, and demolitions hit various parts of the strip. The territory's Ministry of Health reported these casualties immediately.

Since a ceasefire took effect last October, more than 1,250 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire. Overall death tolls since October 2023 now exceed 73,300 according to Palestinian official sources. Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz declared this week that troops would remain in occupied security zones across Lebanon and Syria as well. He added there will be a continued military presence across all three fronts. The situation remains fragile for civilians caught in the crossfire.