Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo for ‘Exploratory’ Meetings

Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
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Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo for ‘Exploratory’ Meetings

Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)
Protesters wave the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli security forces near the border fence east of Gaza City on December 15, 2017. (AFP)

A Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo mid-September to meet with Egyptian officials for further talks on pending issues, an official from the Palestinian movement official said on Sunday.

Hamas politburo member Maher Obeid said that the meetings will tackle various Palestinian files, especially reconciliation and a ceasefire with Israel.

Delegations from the Popular and Democratic fronts are expected to arrive for periodic meetings with Egyptian officials after efforts, especially peace negotiations, failed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been accused of hindering the efforts.

Hamas has escalated its actions against Israel prior to the arrival of its delegation to Egypt and plans to revive popular rallies along the Gaza-Israel border, including the possibility of relaunching incendiary kites.

These acts aim at shedding light on the deteriorating situation in Gaza and serve as a strong protest message following the end of truce talks.

“Hamas believes that mediators will once again take action if Israel comes under pressure,” Asharq Al-Awsat had earlier quoted the movement as saying.

Obeid stressed that "if the masses of our people stepped up the march of return and put new pressure on the occupation, then truce will be achieved and Israel will pay for its actions."

“The fate of the peaceful return marches, especially after freezing the truce talks, depends on the movement of the Palestinian masses,” Obeid told the local Palestinian al-Istiqlal newspaper.

“Truce efforts have not completely stopped, but they are witnessing a state of laxity and change in the priorities of the parties, so that their priority will be to start reconciliation and then to address to other matters, led by the PA,” he added.

“However, it seems that our people will head towards escalation ... in order to achieve the desired goals,” Obeid stressed.

Egypt-sponsored truce talks between Palestinian factions and Israel last month were halted after Abbas's threats that he would not allow a truce in the Gaza Strip since it will help separate the enclave from the West Bank and lead the way for the adoption of the so-called “Deal of the Century”.



US Orders Departure of Beirut Embassy Staff's Families, Non-emergency Personnel

A boy sells balloons as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A boy sells balloons as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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US Orders Departure of Beirut Embassy Staff's Families, Non-emergency Personnel

A boy sells balloons as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A boy sells balloons as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

The United States embassy in Lebanon said that the State Department on Sunday ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency US government personnel from Lebanon, after Washington launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

"On June 22, 2025, the US Department of State ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency US government personnel from Lebanon due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region," said a statement on the US embassy website.

Washington has a "do not travel" advisory in place for Lebanon.

The Israel-Iran war, which began on June 13 with Israeli attacks on Iran, has raised further alarms in a region that was already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023.

The US had last year ordered the departure of family members and non-essential staff during Israel's war in Lebanon that had dealt severe blows to Hezbollah, but that order was later lifted.