Pivotal talks between Israel and Hamas begin on eve of Gaza war anniversary
The indirect negotiations are taking place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Israeli and Hamas officials have launched indirect talks at an Egyptian resort on a US-drafted peace plan to end the devastating war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.
Many uncertainties remain about the plan presented by US President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group – a key Israeli demand – and the future governance of Gaza.
Mr Trump is seeking an agreement on Gaza, which he has indicated could pave the way for a revamped Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.
Despite Mr Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israel continued to pound Gaza with air strikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territory’s Health Ministry said.
An Egyptian official said talks began at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday afternoon.
The Israelis are led by top negotiator Ron Dermer, while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation.
Hamas said the negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the talks, Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram reported.
This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the US plan that Israel also said it supported.
Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages – about 20 of whom are believed to be alive – within three days. It would give up power and disarm.
The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly as Mr Netanyahu said they would be “confined to a few days maximum”, though some Hamas officials have warned more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi hailed Mr Trump’s efforts.
“A ceasefire, the return of hostages and detainees, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the start of a peaceful political process leading to the establishment and recognition of a Palestinian state mean that we are on the right path towards lasting peace and solid stability,” he said.
He underscored the importance of preserving the US-crafted “peace system” in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said “served as a strategic framework for regional stability”.
Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for Israeli hostages to be released.
Israel says it is largely heeding Mr Trump’s call for ending the bombing.
The Israeli military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since Saturday night when the military made the announcement.
The Israeli military said on Monday that it eliminated “a terrorist cell armed with explosive devices and mortars” that on Sunday intended to attack Israeli soldiers.
It also destroyed another “terrorist cell” that launched a mortar injuring one soldier, as well as a structure from where an anti-tack missile was launched against Israeli army engineering machinery.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Monday that the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, have been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Another 96 were wounded.
The deaths brought the toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on October 7 2023 that triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the casualties were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the UN and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 mostly civilians in the October 7 attack. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire or other deals.
Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas petitioned the Nobel Prize Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Mr Trump for what they said where his unprecedented contributions to global peace.
“At this very moment, President Trump’s comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table,” the families wrote. “For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over.”
