Hamas leaders rushed to Cairo for urgent talks as Gaza fighting intensifies

Senior figures from Hamas were summoned to Cairo with urgency today (Tuesday), as Egypt scrambles to address the fallout from Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza. The call comes hours after IDF airstrikes rocked the Strip overnight, killing over 300 Palestinians—including key Hamas operatives—according to local reports, and shattering a fragile ceasefire. Amid the chaos, mediators are pushing to restart hostage negotiations, though Israel insists talks will now unfold “under fire” until its captives are freed.

The escalation follows the breakdown of prior ceasefire discussions, prompting Israel to unleash a barrage of strikes targeting Hamas infrastructure across Gaza. Egypt, a linchpin in past Israel-Hamas mediations alongside Qatar, reacted swiftly. Its Foreign Ministry condemned the IDF’s actions as “a severe violation of the ceasefire,” warning that they threaten to plunge the region into “a dangerous zone.” Cairo’s statement demanded immediate international intervention to halt the violence and revive de-escalation efforts, reflecting its vested interest in stabilizing its volatile neighbor.

The overnight assault, which began late Monday, has drawn intense scrutiny. Palestinian sources claim the death toll exceeds 300, with significant Hamas figures among the casualties—a toll yet to be independently verified. Israel’s resumption of combat came after Hamas repeatedly rebuffed proposals to release the 59 hostages it still holds, a sticking point that has stalled talks brokered by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Arab mediators since late 2024. In response, Jerusalem signaled a shift: negotiations will persist, but only alongside military pressure.

Egypt’s urgent summons of Hamas leaders—reportedly orchestrated by its intelligence service—underscores Cairo’s determination to salvage a diplomatic path. Al-Arabiya sources indicate that Egyptian officials are engaging in “feverish” discussions with fellow mediators, likely Qatar, to craft a new ceasefire framework. One proposal on the table: the immediate release of several Israeli hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting. However, Israel has rebuffed this, telling mediators it won’t halt operations until Hamas meets its core demand—freeing all captives taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited this war.

Despite the strikes, dialogue hasn’t fully collapsed. A senior Hamas official, unnamed in reports, vowed that the group would press on with talks to “end the bloodshed in Gaza,” signaling resilience even as Israel’s bombs fall. This duality—fighting while negotiating—mirrors Hamas’s strategy in past flare-ups, though the current stakes are heightened by the group’s depleted ranks and Israel’s unrelenting posture.

Egypt’s condemnation carries weight beyond rhetoric. As a mediator, it has facilitated multiple truces since 2007, leveraging its border with Gaza and its influence over Hamas, which maintains a political presence in Cairo. Tuesday’s statement reflects frustration with Israel’s unilateral move, but also a pragmatic push to reassert control over the process. “The attacks undermine every effort at calm,” Egypt declared, urging global powers—likely the UN and U.S.—to step in.

The IDF has yet to detail the strike’s targets beyond “Hamas infrastructure,” though the high casualty count suggests a broad operation, possibly hitting command centers or weapons caches in densely populated areas like Khan Younis or Nuseirat, as seen in prior campaigns.

Mediators face an uphill battle. Al-Arabiya reports suggest Qatar, a longtime Hamas patron, is also in the loop, working to align the terror group with Egypt’s latest overture. Yet Hamas’s internal divisions—between its Gaza-based fighters and external leaders—could complicate any deal. Israel, meanwhile, has made clear it’s prepared to escalate further, with security sources hinting at potential ground operations if talks falter.

For now, Cairo’s halls buzz with urgency as Hamas brass arrive, their bags barely unpacked from the last round. Whether this hastily convened summit yields a breakthrough—or merely more posturing—remains uncertain, but the clock is ticking for Gaza.