Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles received the news of the meeting between Egyptian Intelligence Chief Major General Hassan Rashad and a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Sunday, August 16, 2026, headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, as a pivotal step towards consolidating the ceasefire, implementing the resolutions of the Sharm El-Sheikh conference, and activating the Trump peace plan and the reconstruction of Gaza. This comes amidst Beijing’s efforts to support regional stability and limit Washington’s unilateral influence in the region and reflects the desire of Chinese political and strategic circles to bolster regional stability. Chinese circles view the Egyptian steps to solidify the ceasefire and support stability in Gaza with great interest, as Beijing seeks to enhance regional stability and counterbalance American influence in the region by supporting Arab diplomatic efforts and Egyptian intelligence. The Chinese position on Egyptian efforts to support de-escalation in the Gaza Strip is centered on China’s view of the Egyptian intelligence’s actions as a fundamental pillar for preventing the escalation of regional crises and limiting American unilateralism. Here, Beijing favors a balanced approach that reduces Washington’s unilateral dominance in Middle Eastern affairs while supporting any practical and sustainable plans for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to ensure long-term stability.
Chinese state media outlets, such as Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), and the People’s Daily, have covered the activities of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, led by Minister Major General Hassan Rashad, with Palestinian factions and the Gaza administration file with keen interest. This coverage includes close monitoring and clear Chinese logistical, diplomatic, and media support for Egypt’s pivotal role in the Palestinian issue. Beijing views the Egyptian intelligence role as a cornerstone for the success of any peace or reconstruction plans in the devastated Gaza Strip. Official Chinese media reports have adopted direct headlines focusing on Egypt’s mediation role and the intelligence role of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate in managing negotiations, peace plans, and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Among the most prominent is a report issued by the Chinese news agency Xinhua. This report, entitled Egyptian Intelligence Chief Discusses with Hamas Delegation Ways to Complete Implementation of Peace Plan Resolutions, documented all direct meetings in Cairo between Major General Hassan Rashad and a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil Al-Hayya. The report also focused on mechanisms for completing the implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit resolutions and the parties’ commitment to ending the suffering of the Gaza Strip’s residents and immediately beginning reconstruction. Chinese newspapers and media outlets also officially covered the issue under the headline Supporting Palestinian Consensus and the Technocratic Gaza Management Committee. Their reports and press coverage in China focused on the Egyptian intelligence’s sponsorship of the formation and operation of the Palestinian Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip and Major General Hassan Rashad’s confirmation, as head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, of providing full support to the committee to undertake humanitarian and essential tasks in the Strip. Here, Beijing views these moves positively, as they align with the Beijing Declaration on Reconciliation, which China sponsored between the Palestinian factions (Hamas and Fatah). Several reports and news articles broadcast by China Global Television Network (CGTN) focused on launching reports under the headline of Coordination of International and Regional Mechanisms to Establish Stability, following the engagement and coordination between Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and the Gaza Executive Board. The reports also highlighted joint meetings with regional and international mediators to overcome obstacles and facilitate the passage of aid through Egyptian border crossings, including the Rafah crossing.
The most prominent aspects of Chinese media coverage and analysis of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate’s role in Gaza were based on three main pillars, which are
(1) The Chinese media’s focus on the complementarity of Egyptian and Chinese roles, as the Egyptian intelligence service possesses the means to exert pressure and maintain direct field contact with Palestinian factions (Hamas and Fatah). This complements China’s political efforts to build a unified front to administer the Gaza Strip and ensure the formation of a national unity government.
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(2) The Chinese media’s focus on the humanitarian aspect and border crossings. Chinese reports highlight Major General Hassan Rashad’s emphasis in all his meetings on the necessity of fully opening all border crossings and ensuring the flow of relief and medical aid, which aligns with China’s official position at the Security Council.
(3) Chinese media outlets are keen to highlight headlines and broad themes aligned with the Egyptian position, such as preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and preserving the cause. Chinese state media are also eager to convey and commend Egypt’s firm stance of rejecting the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and protecting the fundamental principles of the Palestinian cause.
Official circles in Beijing believe that any successful Egyptian mediation efforts in the Gaza issue, which would alleviate tensions in the Middle East and secure global trade and shipping lanes, must be supported, in line with the Chinese perspective on multipolar international efforts. Therefore, China views Egyptian efforts positively as evidence of independent regional mediation, free from absolute Western and American hegemony, and as an effective Egyptian model for crisis management in Gaza and the region. China considers the Egyptian approach a successful model for conflict resolution. Consequently, China encourages Egyptian efforts to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and the region, particularly the tireless actions and tactics employed by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, led by Major General Hassan Rashad, to prevent the conflict from escalating and causing further harm. China’s economic interests in the region are a key factor. Chinese intelligence and military circles are playing a monitoring and verification role to ensure comprehensive regional stability, thanks to Egyptian intelligence efforts. Chinese intelligence is closely following the mechanisms for implementing the roadmap’s provisions and monitoring ceasefire violations to assess the robustness of the agreements and the positive response to the security arrangements. This involves evaluating the future role of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the UNIFIL forces as a means of maintaining security on the ground, preventing a security vacuum, and reflecting China’s on-the-ground military commitment to avoiding a sudden resurgence of fighting in the Gaza Strip, which could further destabilize the region amidst the ongoing military conflicts in Iran and in southern Lebanon with Israel and the United States.
Accordingly, China attaches great importance to the de-escalation and security diplomacy efforts led by Egypt in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East. It particularly values the intensive efforts undertaken by the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate under the leadership of Minister Major General Hassan Rashad. This Chinese support stems from several vital strategic and economic pillars that are at play, most notably the protection of economic interests and trade routes. Beijing believes that the continued regional escalation directly threatens international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, which are crucial waterways for the flow of Chinese exports and the Belt and Road Initiative to European and African markets. Official Chinese media and reports highlight the role of Major General Hassan Rashad in leading mediation efforts to de-escalate the conflict, his ongoing discussions with Palestinian factions and regional and international parties to establish sustainable political and security arrangements and facilitate reconstruction in Gaza, and acknowledge the pivotal role of Egyptian intelligence. Here, the political visions of Egypt and China converge, as the Chinese position aligns with its Egyptian counterpart on the necessity of preventing the conflict from spreading and achieving regional stability. Beijing consistently favors diplomatic solutions to ensure a secure environment for its investments and development partnerships with countries in the region.
