Hamas leader meets Egyptian intelligence chief

A Hamas delegation, led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, met with Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, in El-Alamein, Egypt, to discuss the implementation of a US-backed post-war plan for Gaza. The delegation expressed its commitment to the plan, as reported by Egyptian state media. A Hamas official stated that the delegation would inform Egyptian officials about Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and that al-Hayya would emphasize Hamas's readiness to implement the agreement once Israel announces its commitment to it. The meeting coincided with US envoy Jared Kushner's scheduled visit to Israel to discuss the same Gaza plan, which has faced rejection from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kushner's trip is intended to facilitate discussions with both Netanyahu and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza, regarding the advancement of the peace plan initially introduced last October, which included a ceasefire declaration. Despite this ceasefire, reports indicate that Israel has continued to conduct near-daily strikes on Gaza. The proposed plan includes provisions for Hamas to disarm and transfer its weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee in Gaza, with an International Stabilisation Force taking over security in the territory. However, Netanyahu's public dismissal of this plan highlights ongoing Israeli opposition to its provisions. The discussions during Kushner's visit are expected to address these contentious aspects, particularly the disarmament of Hamas and the potential withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In addition to meetings in Israel, Kushner and Mladenov will also visit Egypt, which is regarded as a key mediator in the ongoing conflict. The US and Israel reportedly share a common goal of achieving a demilitarized Hamas as part of broader peace efforts in the region. The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, especially in light of Netanyahu's recent rejection of the proposed plan.