Israel, Hamas to Begin Ceasefire Talks in Egypt

Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the United States will meet in Egypt for discussions on Monday, with President Donald Trump encouraging negotiators to “move fast ” to bring an end to the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza.

Both Hamas and Israel have reacted positively to Trump’s suggestion for halting the fighting and exchanging captives in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, was scheduled to engage with mediators from Egypt and Qatar in Cairo on Monday morning, according to a high-ranking official from the Palestinian militant group, before discussions in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.

The negotiations aim to “determine the date of a temporary truce,” the official said, and set the stage for the initial phase of the peace plan, which involves the release of 47 hostages in Gaza in exchange for numerous Palestinian detainees.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, commending “positive discussions with Hamas” and supporters around the globe, including Arab and Muslim countries.

Israel, Hamas to Begin Ceasefire Talks in Egypt. Credit: CNN

“I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump wrote.

Foreign ministers from various nations, including Egypt, described the discussions as a genuine opportunity to secure a lasting ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared optimism that the hostages could be freed within days.

Hamas has maintained that it should have a role in determining the future of the territory, even though Trump’s plan specifies that it and other factions will not hold any role in Gaza’s governance.

The US initiative, which Netanyahu has supported, requests a cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages within a 72-hour timeframe, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas—something the group has previously deemed unacceptable.

According to the proposal, the governance of the territory would be managed by a technocratic body under the supervision of a post-war transitional authority led by Trump himself.

The assault by Hamas in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 individuals, primarily civilians. In response, Israel’s offensive has claimed at least 67,139 Palestinian lives, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled area, which the United Nations considers reliable.

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