A Hamas delegation has opened a round of talks in Egypt with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, part of efforts to advance the US-backed peace plan for Gaza. The discussions, which began on Sunday, aim to explore ways of moving the plan forward, according to a Hamas official who spoke to AFP.

Talks and Delegation

The delegation, led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt on Saturday evening, ahead of a planned visit by Jared Kushner, an envoy for former US President Donald Trump. The meeting with General Rashad is taking place in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein. According to the Hamas official, the agenda covers the latest developments in negotiations and efforts to compel Israel to abide by the agreement, including a 15-point roadmap, and to begin its implementation. The delegation is also expected to brief Egyptian officials on Israeli violations of the ceasefire, with al-Hayya set to emphasize Hamas's commitment to the agreement once Israel likewise commits.

Plan and Disagreements

The talks come amid ongoing disagreements over the agreement. In late July, Hamas had signalled its readiness to hand over its weapons to a nascent technical committee set to govern Gaza, as part of the 15-point plan announced by President Trump's Board of Peace. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the plan, vowing no withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza until full disarmament of Hamas.

A separate Hamas source told AFP that a meeting was being arranged between the Hamas negotiating team, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, and US officials during Kushner's visit. Kushner is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt this week in an attempt to bridge gaps in the plan. Contacts are also under way with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators to press Israel to adhere to the agreement.

Regional and International Reactions

Adding a further layer to the diplomatic landscape, the talks have drawn attention from Beijing. Reports indicate that Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles have received news of the meeting as a pivotal step towards consolidating the ceasefire and activating the peace plan. Chinese state media, including Xinhua, CGTN, and People's Daily, have covered the activities of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate extensively, highlighting the complementarity of Egyptian and Chinese roles. They have underscored Egypt's stance against the displacement of Palestinians and its support for opening border crossings to ensure the flow of relief and medical aid.

Beijing views Egypt's mediation efforts as a model for resolving conflicts without Western and American hegemony, according to the reports. China's interest is also strategic, given its economic interests in the region, including protecting Red Sea and Suez Canal shipping lanes and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese intelligence is reportedly monitoring the situation closely, including the role of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and UNIFIL forces.