Hamas leader Haniyeh visits Egypt to discuss new Gaza truce

The head of Hamas’ political bureau has traveled to Egypt to discuss a potential new Gaza truce involving an exchange of prisoners and the entry of more aid to Gaza.

The Qatar-based Ismail Haniyeh was expected to hold talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

Haniyeh, before leaving Qatar, met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also said on Wednesday a delegation of the movement headed by Secretary General Ziad Nakhaleh will visit Egypt in the coming days to “discuss ways to stop the aggression and a prisoner exchange deal.”

The statement added that a potential exchange of captives will take place based on the principle of “everyone for everyone” within a political process agreed upon by the forces representing the Palestinian people, led by Hamas.

Western media reports have described the negotiations as intensive and suggested a breakthrough could be possible within days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Tuesday told relatives of some of the remaining 129 captives held in Gaza since the October 7 attacks that the head of Mossad was working on efforts to free the Israeli captives.

Mossad director David Barnea held a “positive meeting” in Warsaw this week with CIA chief Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, AFP reported, citing an unnamed source.

The source said the talks were ongoing to reach an agreement around the release of the remaining captives in Gaza in exchange for a truce and the potential release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.