Delegations from Hamas and Israel began indirect peace talks on Monday in Egypt, aimed at ending nearly two years of conflict in Gaza. The discussions, held under tight security, are centered around U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan, which seeks to negotiate a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, reports AFP.
The first round of talks, conducted in a "positive atmosphere," concluded with further discussions scheduled for Tuesday, according to Al-Qahera News, a state-linked Egyptian media outlet. The talks are taking place behind closed doors, with mediators shuttling between the two parties. This marks the first official dialogue between Hamas and Israel in Egypt since the Israeli airstrike on Qatar that targeted Hamas's chief negotiators earlier this year.
The primary focus of the talks is the release of detainees and prisoners. Egypt and Qatar are reportedly mediating the exchange of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinians detained in Israeli jails. The ceasefire negotiations come amid continued Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which claimed the lives of at least seven Palestinians on Monday, according to Gaza's civil defense agency.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the potential for a deal, telling reporters at the White House, "I'm pretty sure a peace deal is possible. Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important." Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are also expected in Egypt to support the negotiations.
Hamas's lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, who survived a targeted attack on Hamas leaders in Doha last month, met with Egyptian intelligence officials ahead of the talks. While both Hamas and Israel have responded positively to Trump’s proposals, reaching an agreement on the details is expected to be challenging.
Trump’s plan includes the disarmament of Hamas, a provision the militant group is unlikely to accept. Additionally, the plan envisions the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to maintain a military presence in Gaza to secure the release of hostages.
A Palestinian source close to Hamas noted that the initial prisoner exchange would be a lengthy process, dependent on conditions on the ground, including the cessation of Israeli airstrikes and the withdrawal of troops. "The exchange will require several days to arrange, depending on the status of Israeli withdrawals and air operations," the source said.
Hamas officials also indicated that military operations would halt in parallel with a ceasefire from Israel, provided Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza City. However, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned that if the negotiations fail, Israel would "return to fighting" in Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed readiness to assist with the return of hostages and detainees, as well as facilitate humanitarian aid access across Gaza, which the United Nations has declared to be experiencing famine conditions.
For Palestinians like Mohammed Abu Sultan, 49, the war has devastated their lives. "The war has destroyed everything I built throughout my life," he said, after fleeing Gaza City with 20 family members. "We have been running from death for two years."
The ongoing war has taken a devastating toll on Gaza's population. Since Hamas's initial attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, Israeli retaliatory airstrikes have killed at least 67,160 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza's health ministry.
While both sides have agreed to discuss a temporary truce, reaching a lasting peace deal remains a monumental challenge. Trump's roadmap for peace stipulates that Hamas and other militant groups should have no role in Gaza's governance, with administration of the territory shifting to a technocratic body overseen by a transitional authority led by Trump himself. This aspect of the plan has raised concerns among Hamas officials, who insist on having a say in the future of Gaza.
“We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu to stop the war,” said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area. "We want the prisoner exchange deal to be completed quickly so that Israel has no excuse to continue the war."
As the negotiations unfold, the international community remains focused on the outcome of these talks, which hold the potential to end one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in recent history.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
