Hamas chief negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya.
According to a statement released by Hamas, the delegation is headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, the group’s leader in Gaza, “to begin negotiations on the mechanisms of a ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces and a prisoner exchange.”
It marks Al-Hayya’s first public appearance since Israel’s attempted assassination of him in Doha on 9 September.
"During communications with mediators, Hamas insisted that it is essential for Israel to halt military operations across all areas of the Gaza Strip, cease all air, reconnaissance, and drone activity, and withdraw from inside Gaza City," a Palestinian source close to Hamas told AFP, adding the group would "also halt their military operations" in parallel.
On Saturday, Egypt announced it would host delegations from Hamas and Israel to discuss preliminary conditions and details of a comprehensive exchange of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected in Cairo “to finalize the details” of the agreement.
Posting on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, the US president praised "positive discussions with Hamas" and allies around the world, including Arab and Muslim nations.
"I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," Trump wrote.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday urged Israel to stop bombing Gaza ahead of the discussions in Egypt.
"You can't release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop," Rubio told CBS.
Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli delegation would be departing for Egypt on Monday for the talks.
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