A senior Hamas delegation met Egypt’s intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, in Cairo to discuss what the group described as Israel’s breaches of the ceasefire, the movement said, as Palestinians in Gaza held funerals for dozens killed in recent Israeli strikes.
In a statement, Hamas said it reaffirmed its commitment to implementing phase one of the ceasefire but accused Israel of “continued violations” that risked undermining the agreement. The delegation included Khalil al‑Hayya, Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief. Hamas called for a clear, defined mechanism under mediator supervision to document and halt any breaches.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been mediating between Hamas and Israel and helped secure the ceasefire that took effect last month. Hamas said it also discussed with Egypt urgent steps to deal with its fighters sheltering in tunnel networks in Rafah in areas now under Israeli control, and that communication with those fighters had been severed.
The meeting followed a wave of Israeli air strikes across Gaza that killed at least 24 Palestinians, including children, and destroyed homes, makeshift shelters and a car. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas members after the group allegedly sent a fighter into Israeli‑controlled Gaza to attack soldiers; it said a local Hamas commander was killed. Hamas denied the allegations and accused Israel of seeking a pretext for killings, urging Egypt, Qatar and the US to pressure Israel to “immediately halt these violations”.
The Gaza Government Media Office said Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 497 times since it began on October 10, and that some 342 civilians have been killed in the incidents, with children, women and the elderly making up the majority of victims.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza City, said residents fear the attacks will expand. He described continued strikes beyond the “yellow line” — areas under Israeli control — and said there has been demolition and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and landmarks, turning parts of the city into a barren landscape. He added people are sceptical about moving to phase two of the deal while they wait to see if the ceasefire holds and whether there will be meaningful increases in humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
Phase one of the ceasefire, based on US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, calls for the exchange of captives and prisoners, delivery of humanitarian aid and opening the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Hamas has released all remaining living captives and returned dozens of bodies, except for three. Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinians, including some serving life sentences, but humanitarian groups say Israeli restrictions on border crossings continue to impede aid delivery, and Israel has refused to open Rafah.
Phase two envisions Gaza governed by a technocratic Palestinian committee, under oversight of the Trump‑led “board of peace”. The board would deploy a temporary International Stabilisation Force to secure border areas, train Palestinian police and work toward demilitarising Gaza. Hamas has said it will not give up its weapons while the Israeli occupation continues.
Trump’s plan also states that no Palestinian would be forced to leave Gaza and that “Israel will not occupy or annex” the territory. The plan has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.