Israeli, Hamas officials meet on US Gaza peace plan
Israel and Hamas met for negotiations Monday in Egypt, part of efforts to quickly implement President Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, hostage release and pathway to end the war.
Trump projected optimism Sunday evening after pushing both Hamas leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the negotiating table late last week, predicting the “first phase” of the deal could be completed within days.
The first phase is expected to include implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.
“I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social.
“I will continue to monitor this Centuries old ‘conflict.’ TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!”
Trump dispatched to Egypt his senior adviser for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law and former senior adviser on the Middle East, Jared Kushner. The Israeli negotiating team is being led by Netanyahu’s close adviser, Ron Dermer.
Hamas’s delegation is headed by Khalil al-Hayya The Associated Press reported. Al-Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt late last month that struck Hamas residences in Doha, Qatar.
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are taking place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, which borders Israel and Gaza.
The push for a ceasefire comes ahead of the second anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel, a shocking display of brutality by Hamas, with 1,200 people killed and 250 people taken hostage.
Israel’s subsequent war against Hamas has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and more than 60,000 people killed. Half of that number is believed to be women and children.
Israel’s conduct of the war has largely turned global opinion against the country, with Israel’s key European allies joining a majority of United Nation-member states in recognizing a Palestinian state. Israeli leaders are facing genocide and war crimes charges at international courts.
Trump revived pressure to get to a ceasefire in Gaza following the Israeli attack in Doha, furious over Netanyahu carrying out a strike inside a major American military ally without consultation with the U.S. The president pushed Netanyahu to issue a formal apology to Qatar’s leader and followed through on a U.S.-Qatari mutual defense pact in the wake of the strike.
Trump also pushed Netanyahu to endorse a 20-point peace plan negotiated with Qatar and other leaders of Arab and Muslim countries. The plan calls for Hamas to lay down its arms and renounce violence against Israel, but it also endorses a pathway to a sovereign Palestinian State — a red line for Netanyahu.
Still, the Israeli leader endorsed the plan during a meeting with Trump in Washington last week. When Hamas responded Friday that it endorsed points of the plan, Trump welcomed that as a pathway to peace and turned pressure on Netanyahu to move forward with talks.
Axios reported that Trump criticized Netanyahu as being “f‑‑‑ing negative,” and told him, “This is a win. Take it.”
Netanyahu, in a speech Sunday, said the country is “on the verge of a very great achievement.” The Israeli leader said military pressure on Hamas, beginning with an overwhelming assault on Gaza City, brought Hamas to the point of offering to release the 20 remaining living hostages and bodies of 28 others.
Netanyahu said a second stage of negotiations will see Hamas disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized, and warned that if it is not achieved through negotiations, then Israel will restart military operations.
“I also said this in Washington: Either it will be achieved the easy way, or it will be achieved the hard way — but it will be achieved,” Netanyahu said.