Delegations from Qatar, the United States, and Turkey are set to join indirect negotiations in Sharm El Sheikh on Wednesday between Hamas and Israel, aimed at reaching an agreement for the release of hostages from Gaza as part of a U.S. proposal to end the war, now in its third year.
The discussions between the Palestinian group and the Israeli state began on Monday after Hamas consented to release hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees, under a 20-point plan presented by President Donald Trump.
Joining the talks on Wednesday will be Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, his special envoy to the Middle East Steve Wheatcroft, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
On Tuesday, Trump mentioned a “real opportunity” to reach an agreement to conclude a conflict that erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
During remarks to journalists at the Oval Office, Trump stated, “There is a genuine chance to make something happen,” adding, “I believe there is a possibility of establishing peace in the Middle East. This goes beyond just the situation in Gaza, and we want the hostages to be released immediately.”
He emphasized that the U.S. is committed to ensuring all parties adhere to the agreement if Hamas and Israel agree on a ceasefire aimed at finishing the war.
Hamas made it clear that any agreement reached must come with guarantees that it will put an end to the conflict that has caused massive devastation in the region and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Senior Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, who survived an assassination attempt in September during Israeli airstrikes targeting Qatar’s capital, stated that Hamas seeks assurances from President Trump and the sponsoring nations to ensure the war ends permanently.
Al-Hayya told Al-Qahira News Channel, “We cannot trust the Israeli occupation, as history shows it does not honor its commitments.” He added, “We are looking for genuine guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries… and we are prepared to positively contribute to ending the war.”
Trump’s plan includes a ceasefire, the release of all hostages by Hamas, disarmament of the group, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Hamas has expressed agreement on releasing hostages and handing over Gaza’s management to a committee of Palestinian independents, but has not addressed the issue of disarmament and insisted that the plan’s clauses on Gaza’s future must be discussed.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister voiced his support for the plan, asserting that it meets Israel’s wartime objectives.
A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP that Hamas discussed the preliminary maps for the withdrawal presented by the Israeli side, along with mechanisms for prisoner swaps and scheduling.
The source clarified that Hamas insists on linking the timing of prisoner exchanges with the timeline for Israeli withdrawals.
Additionally, Netanyahu pledged in a speech on Tuesday evening to achieve all war objectives, starting with ensuring the release of all hostages, coinciding with the commemorative events marking the second anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel.
He stated, “We are in critical and decisive days, and we will continue working to achieve all war goals: bring back all captives, eliminate Hamas’s rule, and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel again.”
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty indicated on Tuesday that the negotiations aim to execute the “first phase” of the agreement by working to create conditions for the release of hostages, the flow of aid, and the release of Palestinian detainees.
This requires, he argued, “the redeployment of Israeli forces so that we can implement this phase.”
Growing international pressure is mounting to conclude the war as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues relentlessly, reducing the region to rubble and resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, thus leading to a humanitarian crisis, prompting the UN to declare famine, particularly in the north.
An independent UN probe accused Israel last month of committing genocide in Gaza, while human rights groups have previously accused Hamas of war crimes and crimes against humanity during its assault. Both parties deny these allegations.
Interception of Aid Fleet
Many European and international cities have witnessed massive demonstrations recently calling for an end to the war, a movement heightened following Israel’s interception last week of a humanitarian aid fleet attempting to “break the siege” imposed on Gaza.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military intercepted vessels from a new international aid flotilla in the open sea, according to the Israeli state and the coalition behind the “Global Resilience Flotilla” initiative.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry declared on the platform that the flotilla attempted a “futile breach” into a combat zone, stating that the military “transferred the ships and passengers to an Israeli port,” where they would be “quickly deported.”
The “Global Resilience Flotilla” claimed that the Israeli military intercepted “at least three” of its vessels.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1219 individuals, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.
Additionally, the attackers kidnapped 251 people and took them to Gaza, where 47 remain held, including 25 whom the Israeli military claims have died.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign has resulted in the deaths of at least 67,160 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the most recent figures from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the region, which the UN deems credible.