Delegations from Israel, Hamas, and the United States are gathering in Egypt for renewed ceasefire talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war in Gaza. The discussions come as U.S. President Donald Trump urges both sides to “move fast” toward implementing his proposed peace plan, which includes a truce and a large-scale prisoner-hostage exchange.
Hamas’s chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Monday for consultations with Egyptian and Qatari mediators before the formal meeting begins in Sharm El-Sheikh. According to a senior Hamas official, negotiations will focus on determining the start date of a temporary truce and the first phase of the prisoner swap, which could see 47 Israeli hostages exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
“We are entering a crucial stage,” the official said. “The aim is to finalize the timetable for a ceasefire that allows humanitarian access and the exchange of captives.”
On Sunday, President Donald Trump confirmed that discussions were progressing and urged negotiators not to delay.
Posting on Truth Social, he wrote:
“I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.”
The White House later announced that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, both senior Trump envoys, have been dispatched to Egypt to oversee the process. Trump’s plan calls for the release of hostages within 72 hours, followed by a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a transitional governance structure led by a technocratic body under U.S. supervision.
Both Hamas and Israel have cautiously welcomed the U.S.-backed proposal, but significant differences remain. A Palestinian source close to Hamas told AFP that the group insists on a complete halt to Israeli military operations, including airstrikes, drone surveillance, and troop movements inside Gaza, before implementing the ceasefire.
“Hamas is ready to stop its operations as soon as Israel does the same,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his delegation would depart for Egypt on Monday, expressing hope that the hostages could be released “within days.”
However, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned that if the talks collapse, the army would “return to fighting” in Gaza.
Despite diplomatic momentum, Israeli strikes continued on Sunday night and Monday morning. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 20 Palestinians, including 13 in Gaza City, were killed in new attacks.
AFP footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising over Gaza’s skyline, though residents reported a slight reduction in the intensity of air raids and the partial withdrawal of Israeli tanks.
“There has been a noticeable decrease in strikes since last night,” said Muin Abu Rajab, a resident of Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighbourhood. “But people are still terrified — we’ve seen too many false dawns.”
Under Trump’s proposed roadmap:
- Hostages held in Gaza would be released within 72 hours of the truce.
- Israel would release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained during the war.
- Hamas and other armed factions would disarm and play no role in Gaza’s post-war governance.
- A technocratic transitional authority, overseen by Trump, would manage reconstruction and security.
The proposal has received cautious backing from several Arab governments, including Egypt, which described the talks as a “real opportunity for lasting peace.”
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has exacted a devastating toll.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 67,139 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures verified by the United Nations, and displaced over two million people.
“We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu to stop the war,” said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of the Al-Mawasi area. “Let the exchange deal go through so there’s no excuse to continue this destruction.”
As delegations meet in Egypt, optimism is tempered by skepticism. Hamas has historically rejected full disarmament, while Israel remains wary of any truce that leaves the group politically empowered.
Yet, with both sides weary from years of violence and international pressure mounting, the Cairo talks represent perhaps the most significant chance yet to end the Gaza war — or at least to pause it long enough for diplomacy to take root.
