US and Hamas hold first direct talks after Gaza truce as ceasefire stalls

On 2026-04-16, a U.S. delegation led by senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone met Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo for direct talks aimed at advancing the fragile U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Hamas sources, the discussion focused on Hamas pressing the United States over Israel’s implementation of the first phase of the deal, including an end to strikes and more humanitarian aid.