In a diplomatic development, envoys from US President Donald Trump's newly formed "Board of Peace" met directly with representatives of Hamas in Cairo over the weekend, marking the first publicly reported engagement between the two sides since the outbreak of the broader regional war with Iran. The high-stakes talks, aimed at salvaging the fragile Gaza ceasefire that has been under immense strain since the United States and Israel began their bombing campaign against Iran on February 28, resulted in an immediate and tangible outcome: Israel was compelled to announce the reopening of the Rafah pedestrian crossing, which it had unilaterally shuttered at the start of the wider conflict.
The Israeli Concession
The meeting in the Egyptian capital brought together the US board, represented by Aryeh Lightstone, an aide to Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and a delegation from Hamas. According to three sources familiar with the discussions, the primary objective was to prevent the complete collapse of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which has been the cornerstone of Trump's now overshadowed Middle East initiative.
Following the talks, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Sunday that the Rafah Crossing would be partially reopened for limited pedestrian movement in both directions starting Wednesday. One of the sources directly involved in the matter stated that this Israeli decision was a direct result of the Cairo meeting between Hamas and the board. The crossing, which serves as the sole pedestrian lifeline for Gazans to the outside world, had been completely sealed since the onset of the Iran war, with Israel citing security concerns. The decision to reverse this closure, made under the coordination with Egypt and supervision of the European Union, represents a significant victory for Hamas's diplomatic engagement.
Israel's Exploitation of Regional Conflict
During the Cairo talks, the Hamas representatives delivered a clear and resolute warning to the Trump-led board: the movement could back away from its previous commitments under the Gaza ceasefire if Israel persists in maintaining the harsh restrictions imposed during the Iran war. This position reflects the deep frustration within Gaza, where residents feel the world has once again forgotten their suffering amid the broader regional conflagration. As one Palestinian from Gaza City lamented, the war with Iran has overshadowed Gaza's plight, with no reconstruction, minimal humanitarian aid, and a constant fear that all entry points for food, medicine, and shelter could be sealed entirely.
A Palestinian official with knowledge of the talks confirmed that Hamas firmly believes Israel is cynically exploiting the war on Iran to evade its obligations under Trump's own plan. While Israel officially rejects this accusation, the facts on the ground speak volumes. Despite the broader ceasefire, Israeli military strikes have continued unabated in Gaza, including attacks on Sunday that killed 12 people, among them nine police officers. The Israeli military routinely cites vague "threats or fire" to justify these ongoing assaults, further eroding the already fragile truce.
The Stalled Path
Prior to the outbreak of the Iran war, the next phase of Trump's plan for Gaza hinged on the highly contentious issue of Hamas's disarmament in exchange for amnesty for its fighters, a step intended to pave the way for full-scale reconstruction and further Israeli military withdrawals. However, Reuters has previously reported that these critical talks have been completely on hold since the start of the US-Israeli bombing of Iran. None of the sources for this weekend's meeting could confirm whether the sensitive subject of disarmament was even broached in the Cairo discussions, highlighting just how far the process has derailed.
Further meetings between the parties are expected this week as international mediators scramble to keep the ceasefire from collapsing entirely.