Talks to end the war in Gaza intensified with the arrival of senior representatives from Israel, the U. S., and other regional countries after Hamas provided lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners for a potential exchange. U. S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for peace is being treated seriously, prompting increased participation from high-level diplomats at discussions that started in an Egyptian resort.
Trump’s delegation includes his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Minister Ron Dermer. The Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is also expected to join. Meanwhile, U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in parallel talks in Paris with European and Arab ministers to figure out how to execute Trump’s plan.
The plan enjoys widespread international backing, but essential details remain unclear, such as the timing, the governance of Gaza post-war, Hamas’s future, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Hamas, the group that initiated the conflict by attacking Israel, expressed optimism after submitting its lists for prisoner exchange. The Palestinians Hamas seeks to release include high-profile prisoners who were previously excluded from negotiations.
Currently, Hamas stated that the ongoing talks concentrate on three main issues: stopping the fighting, withdrawing Israeli troops from Gaza, and the prisoner swap. However, Hamas has resisted discussing the major point of contention—Israel’s demand for the surrender of its weapons—linked to the Israeli military presence on Palestinian land.
Despite a reduction in the intensity of Israeli military actions at Trump’s urging, airstrikes continued with recent reports of eight casualties in Gaza. This marks a significant decrease compared to prior weeks when the toll was much higher during serious assaults on Gaza City.
As the anniversary of Hamas’s initial attack approaches, Trump expressed hope for a deal. Turkish spymaster Ibrahim Kalin’s involvement signifies Turkey’s increasing role in the negotiations, with President Tayyip Erdogan stating that Trump asked Turkey to help persuade Hamas.
Trump’s plan envisions an international administration for Gaza, led by himself and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Although Arab nations support the plan, there is disagreement about the future governance of Gaza, with calls for a Palestinian government that excludes Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007. Global condemnation of Israel’s actions has increased, with accusations of genocide, while Israel defends its military actions as self-defense following the October 7 attack, where many were killed and taken hostage.
With information from Reuters