Hamas sends delegation to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire Phase 2 talks as Israel releases 60 Palestinian detainees

Summary

Hamas's negotiating delegation travelled to Cairo on July 28, 2026, to continue talks on implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to a Hamas statement on Telegram cited by Anadolu. Egypt has served as the principal Arab mediator throughout the ceasefire process. On the same day, Israel released 60 Palestinian detainees from Negev Prison, with the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitating the transfer at the Kerem Shalom crossing into Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Arab News reported. The Jerusalem Post said the IDF simultaneously carried out strikes in Gaza that killed a Hamas commander and the head of Hamas's internal security service. The visits to Cairo come weeks after Hamas elected Khalil al-Hayya as political bureau chief, giving the delegation a newly consolidated leadership to present to Egyptian mediators.

Why it matters

Phase 2 talks stalled in recent weeks over the disarmament demand in Clause 8 of the ceasefire framework. A Hamas delegation moving to Cairo is the first concrete sign of resumed face-to-face contact with Egypt since those talks deadlocked. The prisoner release, the largest since October, adds a goodwill measure that typically precedes a more substantial negotiating session. The parallel IDF strikes signal Israel has not suspended military pressure to create space for the talks.

What to watch

• Whether Egypt conveys a revised Phase 2 proposal from mediators or simply restates the existing framework
• Any Israeli response confirming or denying the Hamas delegation's arrival and scope of talks
• Whether further detainee releases or prisoner-swap confidence measures follow in the coming days