In a significant diplomatic development, representatives from Hamas have held direct talks with envoys from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly established “Board of Peace” in Cairo, as the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran places severe strain on the fragile Gaza ceasefire plan, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations.
The weekend meeting, the first publicly acknowledged engagement between Hamas and the Trump-led international body since hostilities with Iran erupted on February 28, aimed to salvage the Gaza peace initiative, which had been Trump’s flagship Middle East policy. The Board of Peace, personally headed by Trump, was tasked with overseeing post-war reconstruction and governance in Gaza following last October’s ceasefire.
Sources indicate that Hamas representatives warned the U.S. delegation they could withdraw from previous commitments under the Gaza agreement if Israel maintains border restrictions imposed since the Iran war began. Israel had closed all crossings into Gaza, citing security concerns, though it later resumed limited humanitarian aid flows. In a potentially related move, Israel announced Sunday it would reopen the Rafah crossing—the sole pedestrian passage between Gaza and Egypt—later this week following a security assessment.
“One source directly linked Israel’s decision to the Cairo discussions, suggesting diplomatic pressure yielded tangible results,” a Reuters report noted. The meeting included Aryeh Lightstone, an American aide to Trump’s special envoy, though U.S. officials confirmed only that Lightstone attended “Gaza-related meetings” in Cairo without specifying participants.
The Iran conflict has effectively paused critical negotiations on Hamas disarmament, a cornerstone of the next phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan. Prior to the regional escalation, the initiative showed momentum with reconstruction pledges and border reopening agreements. Now, with continued Israeli strikes on Gaza—including attacks Sunday that killed 12 Palestinians—and broader regional instability, implementation faces mounting challenges.
Hamas controls the densely populated narrow strip where most of Gaza’s two million residents now live, following the October ceasefire that left Israel controlling over half the territory. A Palestinian official involved said Hamas believes Israel is “exploiting the war on Iran to slip away from its obligations” under the peace plan.
Further meetings are expected this week as U.S. negotiators work with regional partners to advance the Gaza initiative amid the complex Iran-Israel tensions. The outcome could determine whether the ceasefire holds or collapses under the weight of expanding regional conflict.
Source: Dawn News