Israel, Hamas Begin Ceasefire Talks in Egypt

Representatives from Israel, Hamas, and the United States are meeting in Egypt to begin discussions aimed at ending nearly two years of conflict in Gaza.

The talks, which started on Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, are expected to focus on setting a date for a temporary ceasefire and launching the first phase of a peace plan involving the release of captives.

The negotiations come after both Israel and Hamas responded positively to a proposal by US President Donald Trump, which seeks to halt hostilities in Gaza and exchange captives held by both sides.

According to the plan, Hamas would release 47 hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.Hamas’s lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo on Monday for meetings with mediators from Egypt and Qatar.

A Palestinian official said the discussions would center on achieving an initial truce and creating the conditions for further peace efforts.President Trump confirmed through his Truth Social account that he had held productive talks with Hamas representatives and regional leaders.

He urged all sides to act quickly, saying the first stage of the deal should be completed within the week.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that his country’s delegation had left for Egypt to participate in the talks.

The negotiations coincide with the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and triggered the ongoing war.Ahead of the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to suspend airstrikes in Gaza to enable progress in the discussions.

The White House also confirmed that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, were part of the US team sent to Egypt.Hamas has reportedly demanded that Israel halt military operations across Gaza, stop aerial surveillance, and withdraw forces from inside Gaza City.

In return, the group said it would also cease hostilities.The deal proposed by the United States includes a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of more than 1,700 Palestinian detainees, and the exchange of 250 prisoners serving life sentences.

The plan also suggests forming a temporary governing body for Gaza under a technocratic administration led by Trump as transitional overseer.Despite the planned talks, airstrikes continued on Sunday and Monday in several parts of Gaza, including Khan Yunis and Gaza City.

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 20 people were killed in the latest Israeli attacks, 13 of them in Gaza City.The ongoing war has taken a devastating toll.

Hamas’s 2023 assault led to the deaths of 1,219 people in Israel, while the Israeli military’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Many in Gaza have expressed hope that the talks will bring an end to the violence. Residents called for a quick prisoner exchange and an end to airstrikes, saying only a firm ceasefire can open the way for peace after years of destruction and loss.