Peace talks aimed at ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas entered a critical phase Wednesday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, as senior officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt joined negotiations over President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan. The participation of top envoys - including Trump's adviser Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner - signaled that negotiators were ready to confront the most divisive issues blocking a deal.
Hamas has demanded firm guarantees from Trump and mediators that Israel will not resume its military campaign in Gaza once all remaining hostages are released. The group submitted a list of 1,950 Palestinian prisoners it seeks to exchange for 48 Israeli hostages, according to officials familiar with the talks. "A spirit of optimism prevails among all," Hamas said in a statement following its submission.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi described the discussions as "very encouraging," telling state television that progress had been made toward a lasting ceasefire. The latest round, hosted by Cairo with Qatari and American participation, follows two years of war that have left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.
Under Trump's 20-point plan, the deal would begin with an immediate ceasefire and the full release of hostages still held by Hamas from the October 7, 2023 attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the war. Israel would then withdraw its troops once Hamas disarms, paving the way for an international security force and a temporary international administration to govern Gaza. Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair are expected to help oversee the transition.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani traveled to Egypt to join the talks, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adviser Ron Dermer represented Israel. A U.S. official said Washington's delegation also included security and diplomatic personnel but declined to detail their schedule.
Speaking from Sharm el-Sheikh, Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya told Egypt's Qahera TV that the group seeks solid guarantees from Trump and the mediators that the war "will not return." His comments marked his first public appearance since an Israeli strike in Qatar last month killed six people close to him, including his son.
Israeli officials have said Netanyahu has accepted the framework of Trump's proposal, describing their stance as "cautiously optimistic." However, the government remains divided over the plan's disarmament and governance provisions. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video from Jerusalem's Temple Mount urging Netanyahu to pursue "complete victory" over Hamas rather than compromise.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to attend a meeting in Paris Thursday focused on postwar reconstruction and Gaza's long-term governance, according to a French diplomatic source briefed on the plans.
