US, Hamas hold direct talks in Cairo to advance Gaza ceasefire: report

The United States and Hamas have held their first direct talks since the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to advance the fragile agreement, according to a report on Wednesday. A delegation led by senior US adviser Aryeh Lightstone met Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo late on Tuesday, CNN reported, citing Hamas sources. Lightstone was joined by Nickolay Mladenov, the US-backed Board of Peace’s High Representative for Gaza, it added. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment, saying: “We don’t comment on ongoing negotiations.” Hamas did not comment. Read More: Over 60 organisations call for suspension of EU-Israel association agreement The reported meeting follows earlier contacts between Washington and Hamas in March 2025, when US officials publicly acknowledged engaging the group to convey their position. ​​According to the report, al-Hayya urged the US to ensure Israel fully implements its commitments under the first phase of the ceasefire, including halting strikes and allowing full humanitarian aid, as a condition for moving to the next phase. More than 72,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 injured in a genocidal Israeli assault in Gaza since October 2023. The assault was halted under a US-backed ceasefire that took effect last October. Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 749 Palestinians have been killed and 2,082 injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire.