Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to gather in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. This meeting is set to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, coinciding with the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that ignited the war, which has continued to ravage the region for nearly two years.
US President Donald Trump has urged negotiators to expedite the discussions, expressing urgency in his call to “move fast” in order to bring an end to the hostilities. Both Hamas and Israel have shown willingness to engage with Trump’s proposed framework, which seeks a resolution to the fighting and includes provisions for a prisoner exchange.
A senior official from Hamas indicated a strong desire to reach an agreement to cease hostilities, highlighting an eagerness to initiate the prisoner exchange process under current conditions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a hopeful sentiment that hostages could potentially be released in a matter of days.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that discussions with Hamas and other parties concerning the release of captives are progressing positively. He stated that the negotiations are evolving “rapidly” and voiced an expectation that the initial phase of talks would conclude within the week.
To facilitate these dialogues, Trump has dispatched two key emissaries: special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The head of the Hamas delegation, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt late on Sunday, confirming the group’s active participation in the negotiations.
Israeli representatives are also preparing to depart for Egypt to engage in the discussions, which follow months of stalled mediation efforts led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Amid these ongoing diplomatic efforts, foreign ministers from multiple countries have expressed cautious optimism, viewing the current negotiations as a “real opportunity” to establish a sustainable ceasefire.
As the talks approach, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called upon Israel to cease bombing operations in Gaza, emphasizing that hostages cannot be successfully released amid ongoing military strikes. Unfortunately, Israel’s continued assaults have led to further casualties, with at least 20 people reportedly killed in recent strikes.
Cairo aims to use these new negotiations to set “the ground conditions and details” for the exchange of detainees on both sides. According to a Palestinian source close to Hamas, the group has indicated willingness to cease military operations contingent upon Israel doing the same.
Trump has articulated that upon the completion of the hostage-prisoner exchange, “conditions for the next phase of withdrawal” will be established. The US framework proposes not just a halt to hostilities, but also mandates the release of hostages—both living and deceased—within a 72-hour window.
Palestinian militants took 251 hostages during the initial attack, with 47 still believed to remain in Gaza. Israel is anticipated to reciprocate this exchange by releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with over 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip arrested during the conflict.
As the negotiations progress, the next phases of the plan also suggest a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, an aspect the group has historically viewed as a red line. Hamas has insisted that it should play a role in determining the future of the territory; however, Trump’s framework stipulates that Hamas and other factions will have no governance role in Gaza.
Instead, the administration of the territory post-conflict would be managed by a technocratic body under the oversight of a transitional authority envisioned to include Trump himself and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The outcome of these high-stakes talks could significantly reshape the dynamics in the region, offering hope for peace after a prolonged and devastating conflict.
