Cairo (TDI): Israeli and Hamas delegations are meeting in Egypt as momentum builds toward a possible ceasefire in Gaza, after Trump’s 20-point peace plan was unveiled last week.
The talks, expected to begin Monday in Sharm el‑Sheikh, will focus on a sweeping hostage‑for‑prisoners swap and could pave the way for an end to weeks of Israel’s intensified ground operations and air raids in Gaza.
The Israeli delegation, led by chief negotiator Ron Dermer, will depart for the talks following an announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Meanwhile, a Hamas team is reported to have already arrived in Egypt. An unnamed Egyptian official confirmed that US special envoy Steve Witkoff will also take part in the negotiation process.
At the heart of the agenda of these talks is the exchange where Israel would release thousands of Palestinian detainees in return for all remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Read More:Â Pakistan, Egypt Vow Continued Cooperation for Gaza Peace in Foreign Ministers’ Call
At present, Israeli sources say about 48 hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas has recently announced that it is willing to release all hostages under the terms of the peace plan; subject to further consultations on other terms.
Tuesday will mark two years since Israel’s blatant assault on Gaza starting October 7, 2023, which have killed over 67000 Palestinians and displaced millions.
The UN and other independent observers estimate that children and women account for a large proportion of the fatalities.
Israel’s latest ground offensive started last month; coinciding with multiple citations by Israeli officials of a plan to annex and occupy Gaza and West Bank.
Read More: ‘Three or Four Days’ Trump Gives Hamas a Tight Deadline for Gaza Plan
As delegations meet in Egypt, the official mediator alongside Qatar, it remains unclear if Hamas’ other conditions will come under discussion as well; because the peace plan calls for Hamas to completely disarm or leave Gaza.
Netanyahu has been vocal about the need for Hamas to accept all 20 points of the Trump plan immediately. He criticized Hamas’s partial agreement as inadequate.
By contrast, Trump has wholeheartedly welcomed Hamas’s willingness to release hostages, calling on Israel to cease bombing Gaza immediately.
Negotiations rounds came to a halt when Israel attacked Qatar, targeting Hamas negotiating team; for which it has now apologized to Qatar.
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