Overview
- Hamas has begun a secret Shoura Council ballot to choose a new leader, with Khalil al‑Hayya and Khaled Meshaal cited by Reuters sources as the frontrunners, and a deputy will also be elected.
- A delegation led by al‑Hayya arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators on phase two issues including reopening Rafah, further Israeli withdrawals, and forming an independent technocratic commission.
- Two sources told Haaretz the technocratic committee’s lineup is expected to be unveiled in Cairo on Wednesday, while senior Palestinian officials questioned Hamas’ cooperation and the committee’s start date.
- Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza governing bodies and has submitted 40 technocrat candidates to Egypt, as Fatah insists any committee be led by a PA minister and Israeli objections persist.
- A Financial Times–cited report says the U.S. could present phase two as soon as Wednesday, with Nickolay Mladenov slated for a supervisory role, but disarmament demands, lack of a stabilization force, and funding shortfalls remain unresolved.