Delegations from Hamas and Israel on Monday began indirect negotiations in Egypt’s resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza, Egyptian state-linked media reported.
According to Al-Qahera News, the discussions focus on “preparing ground conditions for the release of detainees and prisoners” under a peace proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump to halt hostilities. The report added that “Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides to establish a mechanism” for exchanging hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
The secretive talks, held under tight security, come just weeks after Israel’s failed attempt to assassinate Hamas’s chief negotiators in Qatar.
Hamas Delegation and Early Discussions
The Hamas delegation is led by Khalil al-Hayya, who survived last month’s attack in Doha. He met with Egyptian intelligence officials ahead of the negotiations, which could “last for several days,” according to a Palestinian source close to the group’s leadership.
“We expect the negotiations to be difficult and complex, given the occupation’s intentions to continue its war of extermination,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected in Egypt as part of Washington’s mediation efforts. The U.S. president has urged both sides to “move fast” toward a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes continued Monday, killing at least seven Palestinians, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
A Complex Path to Peace
Although both Israel and Hamas have responded positively to Trump’s proposal, analysts warn the path to an agreement remains fraught. The plan reportedly calls for Hamas’s disarmament, a demand the militant group has historically rejected, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed.
Under the framework, the first phase would include a temporary truce and the exchange of 47 hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
Trump’s plan also proposes that a technocratic body, under his transitional oversight, would administer Gaza instead of Hamas.
International Response and Egyptian Support
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised Trump’s peace roadmap, describing it as “the right path to lasting peace and stability.” The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also confirmed its readiness to assist with the prisoner exchange and ensure humanitarian aid flows safely into Gaza, where the UN has declared a famine.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed optimism, stating: “I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.”
However, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir cautioned that if the talks collapse, Israel will “return to fighting” in Gaza.
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, while Israel’s subsequent offensive has claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
What you should know
The Sharm El-Sheikh talks mark the most significant diplomatic push since the Gaza war began in 2023.
President Trump’s direct involvement and Egypt’s endorsement signal a renewed global effort to broker peace, but with deep mistrust between Hamas and Israel, the success of these negotiations remains uncertain.
