Hamas lead negotiator thanks Trump for working toward ceasefire but says Israel cannot be trusted

The head of the Hamas political bureau Khalil al-Hayya on Tuesday told Egypt's Al-Qahera Al Ekhbariya TV that while he extends his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his efforts toward a ceasefire deal, it's the Israelis that cannot be trusted to commit to it. 

Speaking from the coastal Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh where a second day of talks with mediators wrapped up, Hayya said the Israelis have already reneged on ongoing ceasefire deals twice before: First in December 2023 after one week, and then again in March 2025, after six weeks. 

The international community, the Arab and Muslim nations, and especially the US must act as a guarantor to any ceasefire deal that is agreed in order to ensure Israeli compliance, Hayya stressed.

Hamas, he said, is ready for a full exchange of captives from both sides along with a permanent ceasefire that allows Palestinians to safely and securely rebuild the battered enclave, and sees the Israeli army withdraw from its positions.