Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant statement that hints at the shifting dynamics in the wake of the Gaza war, senior Hamas official and head of its negotiation team, Khalil Al-Hayya, confirmed that the group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement with Israel and to what was agreed upon with other Palestinian factions. Speaking from Cairo Al-Hayya stated, “We are fully confident and determined to implement the ceasefire agreement in Gaza completely.”
His remarks came shortly after the conclusion of the “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit” held on October 13, which brought together leaders from over 20 countries under the joint chairmanship of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump. The summit followed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10 after weeks of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States.
Al-Hayya expressed cautious optimism, noting, “What we’ve heard from the mediators and from President Trump reassures us that the war in Gaza is over.” He added that the international momentum and pressure, combined with the commitments made at the summit, indicate a turning point.
However, he acknowledged the complexity of the post-war humanitarian and operational challenges, particularly concerning the exchange and recovery of Israeli remains. “We are serious about retrieving the bodies of all Israeli detainees,” Al-Hayya said, “but we are facing extreme difficulties in doing so and continue our efforts.”
Since the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas has released 20 Israeli hostages alive and transferred the remains of 14 others to Israeli authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross. Israel, however, disputes the identification of at least one body and claims that 15 remain unaccounted for.
Hamas insists that the full recovery of all remains is hampered by the level of destruction in Gaza. “We need time, advanced equipment, and heavy machinery to retrieve the rest of the bodies,” Al-Hayya stated, indicating that access to rubble-filled areas remains limited or too dangerous for recovery operations.
Meanwhile, Al-Hayya also addressed the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, criticizing the slow pace of aid delivery. “We hope the volume of aid increases to meet the urgent needs of our people in Gaza,” he said. His appeal came as the Gaza Government Media Office reported that only 986 aid trucks had entered the Strip since the ceasefire began far short of the 6,600 trucks agreed upon under the terms of the truce.
The war, which began on October 8, 2023, and was described by Palestinian authorities as a campaign of “genocide,” resulted in catastrophic human losses. According to health officials in Gaza, the conflict left 68,216 people dead and 170,361 injured, most of them women and children. Additionally, over 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure was reportedly destroyed or severely damaged.
Despite the cessation of hostilities, the humanitarian crisis remains acute, with thousands of families displaced and basic services crippled. As recovery and reconstruction efforts remain stalled by logistical and political hurdles, observers warn that the window to stabilize the situation is narrowing.
For now, the ceasefire holds, and negotiations continue. But the road ahead, both in terms of humanitarian recovery and political resolution, remains fraught with challenges.
