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Behind Gaza ceasefire: Who is Ahmed Abdel Khaleq, Egypt’s architect of negotiations

Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with the Egyptian delegation, leaving the Gaza Strip after five days of talks with Palestinian factions aimed at reaching an understanding with Israel to lift the blockade, 2019. (Photo via Palestinian News & Information Agency WAFA )
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Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with the Egyptian delegation, leaving the Gaza Strip after five days of talks with Palestinian factions aimed at reaching an understanding with Israel to lift the blockade, 2019. (Photo via Palestinian News & Information Agency WAFA )
By Maya Hasan
October 09, 2025 02:16 PM GMT+03:00

After 733 days of genocidal war, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a U.S.-proposed Gaza peace plan.

"ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that all parties will be "treated fairly."

Egypt plays a leading role as the primary mediator in the ongoing negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.

Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abdel Khaleq has emerged as one of the key Egyptian officials actively involved in the ceasefire efforts.

Major General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq during Gaza ceasefire negotiations, October 9, 2025. (Photo via Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel)
Major General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq during Gaza ceasefire negotiations, October 9, 2025. (Photo via Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel)

Abdel Khaleq is the first deputy to the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel, and one of the officers in charge of the Palestinian file.

He is considered one of the most prominent officials in the service and has played a leading role in ceasefire arrangements and prisoner exchange efforts for more than two decades.

Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with the Egyptian delegation, leaving the Gaza Strip after five days of talks with Palestinian factions aimed at reaching an understanding with Israel to lift the blockade, 2019. (Photo via WAFA: Palestinian News Agency )
Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with the Egyptian delegation, leaving the Gaza Strip after five days of talks with Palestinian factions aimed at reaching an understanding with Israel to lift the blockade, 2019. (Photo via WAFA: Palestinian News Agency )

15 years of efforts to reach an agreement

For over 15 years, no round of negotiations between Palestinian factions and Israel has taken place without Abdel Khalek’s involvement or influence.

To many diplomats, he is considered the “practical face” of Egypt’s role in the Palestinian file.

Abdel Khaleq has taken part in several rounds of negotiations between Israel and Palestinian factions, as well as in multiple rounds of intra-Palestinian dialogue.

He previously served as an adviser at the Egyptian Embassy in Gaza and as Egypt’s liaison officer in the Strip.

During his tenure, he built strong relationships with various Palestinian parties, including both factions and the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas’s negotiation delegation meets to discuss ongoing ceasefire and humanitarian efforts, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 8, 2025. (Photo via Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel)
Hamas’s negotiation delegation meets to discuss ongoing ceasefire and humanitarian efforts, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 8, 2025. (Photo via Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel)

The constantly present mediator

Abdel Khaleq was a member of the Egyptian security delegation that took part in the negotiations over Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

He also played a prominent role in the 2011 “Gilad Shalit exchange deal”—known as the “Wafa al-Ahrar” (Faithful to the Free) agreement —in which Hamas exchanged the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Among those released was the late Hamas political bureau chief, Yahya Sinwar .

In July 2018, Kamel appointed him to head the Palestinian file, succeeding Maj. Gen. Sameh Nabil. He later became the first deputy head of the Egyptian intelligence service.

Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, November 15, 2018. (Photo via the Palestinian Information Center)
Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek with former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, November 15, 2018. (Photo via the Palestinian Information Center)

A few months after assuming the Palestinian portfolio, Abdel Khaleq visited Gaza in November 2018, where he attended the funeral of Qassam Brigades fighters killed in clashes with Israeli forces.

During that visit, he met Sinwar and other senior figures in the movement, and he went on to visit the Strip several more times.

In 2020, he led indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a prisoner swap, which ultimately failed.

A tripartite meeting brought together Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, and the Egyptian security delegation to discuss improving the Rafah crossing and enhancing trade with Egypt in Gaza , February 2, 2019,(Photo via Sahafahh)
A tripartite meeting brought together Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, and the Egyptian security delegation to discuss improving the Rafah crossing and enhancing trade with Egypt in Gaza , February 2, 2019,(Photo via Sahafahh)

Controversy in 2024 negotiations

His name resurfaced in May 2024, following the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, U.S. media outlets accused him of seeking to undermine ceasefire talks.

CNN report alleging that he had altered certain provisions of Egypt’s ceasefire proposal without coordinating with the U.S. or Israeli sides, which reportedly led to the deal’s collapse at the time.

Although Cairo officially denied these claims, the controversy highlighted the pivotal role it plays in shaping the details of mediation efforts.

Arab diplomatic sources described Abdel Khaleq as “the most knowledgeable about the power maps inside Gaza,” noting that his ability to operate on the ground in the Strip has earned him the trust of Palestinian parties.

Meanwhile, some Israeli observers consider him a “mysterious and influential” figure, whose involvement is difficult to bypass in any discussions related to security or ceasefire arrangements.

October 09, 2025 02:43 PM GMT+03:00
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