The United States and Hamas have reportedly held direct discussions in Cairo, marking their first known engagement since the Gaza ceasefire, according to CNN.
A US delegation led by senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone met Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya late Tuesday. Nickolay Mladenov, representing the US-backed Board of Peace for Gaza, also attended the meeting.
The US State Department declined to comment on the reported talks, stating it does not address ongoing negotiations. Hamas also did not issue any statement regarding the meeting.
The discussions follow earlier indirect contacts in March 2025, when US officials acknowledged communicating with Hamas to convey positions.
During the Cairo meeting, al-Hayya reportedly urged Washington to ensure Israel fully complies with the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. This includes halting military strikes and expanding humanitarian aid access as conditions for advancing to the next stage.
The latest engagement comes amid continued conflict data showing significant casualties since October 2023. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 72,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 injured since the start of the war. Since the ceasefire took effect in October, at least 749 people have reportedly been killed and 2,082 injured in further attacks.
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