Hamas delegation in Cairo for talks on Gaza security; Israel to reopen Rafah crossing

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian officials on Gaza's post-war security and the implementation of a ceasefire with Israel, Egyptian sources have told China's Xinhua News Agency on condition of anonymity.

The discussions center on deploying about 1,000 Palestinian security personnel – trained in Egypt and Jordan – to maintain order in Gaza under Palestinian Authority (PA) supervision, the sources said. The plan is part of efforts to restore stability and establish PA control, they said.

Talks are also addressing Hamas's potential withdrawal from Gaza's security apparatus and the handover of its weapons under a U.S.-backed peace plan, the sources added.

Moreover, the sources also revealed that Israel has agreed to reopen the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on Sunday under EU monitoring and with a PA team present, allowing patients, the wounded and travelers to cross in both directions.

Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that Cairo plans to host a broader Palestinian meeting to discuss forming a joint body to administer Gaza after the war. High-level delegations from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were due to hold separate talks with Egyptian mediators.

Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire that took effect on Friday after two years of war in Gaza, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States.

Since Israel launched its military campaign on October 7, 2023, nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza's health authorities. Despite the ceasefire, at least 23 have been killed and 122 others injured in Gaza since October 11, they added.