NEGOTIATORS from Hamas and Israel have begun indirect talks in Egypt on US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war on Gaza.
Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence, said on Monday the delegations that gathered in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh “are discussing preparing ground conditions for the release of detainees and prisoners”, in line with the US plan.
“Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides to establish a mechanism” for the exchange, it added.
The talks, which come on the eve of the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel that led to the war, have raised hopes that the devastating conflict, which has killed tens of thousands in Gaza, could soon end. But at the same time, there are plenty of potential obstacles to sealing a deal.
And despite the talks, Israel has continued to kill Palestinians in Gaza with 10 reported killed on Monday, including three who were seeking humanitarian aid, according to Al Jazeera sources. That brings the total number of Palestinians killed since October 4, when Trump made his announcement that Israel should stop bombing Gaza, to 104.
Trump has insisted that both sides are on board with his peace framework and has called for the negotiations to “move fast” in reaching an agreement.
Despite the failure of several initiatives to try to end the conflict, including two brief ceasefires that collapsed, the bombardment of Gaza, which has now killed at least 67,160 people, wounded 169,679, and pushed the enclave’s two million people towards starvation, Trump said “the first phase should be completed this week”.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said there had been “very positive discussions with Hamas” and other governments over the weekend “to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought peace in the Middle East”.
“These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly,” he said. “I am asking everyone to move fast … time is of the essence, or massive bloodshed will follow.”
On Monday, he told reporters in the Oval Office that Hamas was agreeing to “very important” issues.
Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that the administration was working hard to advance the plan as quickly as possible, with technical discussions underway.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appeared to buoy expectations when he said the release of the 48 Israeli captives held by Hamas – 20 of whom are believed to be alive could be announced this week.
Under the plan, Hamas would release the captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Hamas has also agreed to give up power in Gaza, while Israel has agreed to withdraw its forces from the enclave.
However, numerous issues remain under the proposal, which lacks details.
There is no timescale given for the disarmament of Hamas, while a vague reference to the establishment of a Palestinian state has put many on both sides of the deal on edge.
Nour Odeh, reporting for Al Jazeera from the Jordanian capital, Amman, said that, for all Trump’s comments talking up the prospects of the plan, significant obstacles remained.
“There are a lot of details that could potentially derail” the negotiations, she said.
Potential sticking points include Israel’s insistence that it wants all captives released at the same time within 72 hours.
Trump, whose envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected in Egypt, has demanded that Israel stop bombing Gaza so that the talks can play out, but strikes have continued across the territory.