Hamas has taken steps to ease a diplomatic rift with Egypt, following sharp remarks last week by senior leader Khalil Al-Hayya that accused Cairo of complicity in the humanitarian crisis at the Rafah crossing.
A senior Hamas official told Al Manassa the group’s political bureau discussed the fallout from Al-Hayya’s speech and agreed to de-escalate. “We reaffirm the historic and current importance of Egypt’s role,” the official said, noting that conciliatory statements are expected from Hamas leaders in the coming days.
The move comes amid faltering ceasefire talks, with Egypt, Qatar and the US pushing a new proposal that includes a 60-day truce, partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, humanitarian aid access, and a prisoner exchange involving 28 Israeli captives and an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees.
Negotiations stalled after Israeli and US delegates walked out of the latest round in Doha two weeks ago, rejecting Hamas’s response to the draft agreement.
The diplomatic strain with Egypt was triggered by Al-Hayya’s fiery speech last week, in which he described the Rafah crossing as a “gateway to death and starvation” and urged Egyptians to pressure their government. He also appealed to Jordanians to resist Israeli plans for Al-Aqsa Mosque and reject what he called efforts to create an “alternative homeland” for Palestinians.
In a recorded speech, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to a peaceful resolution. “Egypt has insisted on playing a constructive role with Qatar and the US since October 7,” El-Sisi asserted, adding, “Our focus has been threefold: stop the war, deliver aid, and secure the release of hostages.”
The diplomatic overture comes as Hamas categorically denied claims by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that the movement is willing to disarm as part of negotiations.
A senior Hamas official told Al Manassa that disarmament is “off the table unless a Palestinian state is established.”
The denial follows a Haaretz report quoting Witkoff as saying Hamas had expressed readiness to disarm. Witkoff, who visited a food aid center operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah on Saturday, said Washington is working with Israel to ease humanitarian access.
“There are challenges and shortages, but there’s no famine,” Witkoff told reporters, contradicting local health reports.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported last Wednesday that seven people, including children, died of hunger or malnutrition in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total famine-related death toll to 154—of whom 89 were children.
Adding to the humanitarian catastrophe, Israeli strikes have killed 1,330 aid-seeking Palestinians and wounded over 8,800 since late May, when the aid foundation began operations.
This violence extends to daily bombardments by Israeli occupation forces at aid distribution points, involving direct fire, aerial attacks, and even reported orders for aid trucks to run over displaced individuals seeking assistance.
The inaccuracy of Witkoff’s statements, according to the source, is confirmed by the suspension of negotiations.
