Hamas chief heads to Cairo for talks ahead of Kushner visit

US envoy Jared Kushner is set to journey to Israel and Egypt next week in search of resolving disputes surrounding a Gaza plan that was dismissed by Israel's prime minister. In Cairo on Saturday evening, Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya is expected to hold discussions with Egyptian officials, marking his first visit to the country since taking leadership of Hamas in late July.

Hayya will subsequently meet with Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, on Sunday morning. Accompanying Kushner on this trip will be Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump's Board of Peace, tasked with implementing the peace deal. The visit aims to bridge gaps on the Gaza plan, which was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu publicly rejected a 15-point plan proposed by Mladenov, in which Hamas agreed to hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee in Gaza. The Board of Peace official expressed hope for constructive conversations between Kushner and Mladenov to advance Trump's overall peace plan, which commenced with the October 2025 ceasefire declaration.

This latest part of the Gaza plan, agreed upon by Hamas in late July, would involve a phased Israeli withdrawal from a significant portion of the Strip. However, Mladenov later stated that Israel would not be required to withdraw troops until Hamas completes disarmament. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has firmly rejected the idea of a pullout and remains skeptical about Hamas's willingness to disarm, insisting that weapons should be destroyed in a verifiable manner.

Hamas maintains that it is complying with the deal. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, stated on Friday that the group continues to await pressure from mediators and the US side to compel Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap.