Trump’s Gaza Peace Push Gains Momentum as Israel-Hamas Talks Enter Critical Phase
High-level peace talks aimed at ending the Gaza war have entered a decisive stage, with President Donald Trump’s special envoys joining indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt. The talks come on the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7th, 2023 attack, which marked the start of the conflict.
Trump’s son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff, arrived in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday. They're joined by top officials from Qatar and Turkey, who are helping mediate the negotiations.
Trump has put forward a 20-point plan to end the war, calling for a ceasefire, release of hostages, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the introduction of humanitarian aid and post-war governance. Both sides have accepted the framework in principle but are pushing for changes on key issues.
“There’s a real chance that we could do something,” Trump said this week. “We want a release of the hostages immediately.” He also posted on Truth Social calling for Israel to "immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Hostage-Prisoner Exchange on the Table
On Wednesday, Hamas confirmed it had submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released in exchange for the remaining 48 hostages held in Gaza—20 of whom Israel believe are still alive.
The list reportedly includes Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, two high-profile prisoners with long sentences. Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said the group came prepared for “serious and responsible negotiations,” but warned it needed “real guarantees” from Trump and the international community that the war would not restart once a deal is reached.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have voiced “cautious optimism”.
Still, a Palestinian official close to the talks said there are “deep gaps” between the two sides, especially over the ceasefire terms, prisoner releases, troop withdrawals, and the future of Gaza's governance.
Trump’s Plan: Key Points and Controversies
Trump’s proposal includes:
- A permanent ceasefire
- A hostage-for-prisoner exchange
- Full and unrestricted humanitarian aid
- The introduction of a technocratic government in Gaza
- An international security force, possibly involving Arab or Muslim countries
But it’s far from a done deal.
Hamas rejects any foreign administration or peacekeeping forces inside Gaza. One official called that part of the plan “unacceptable.” An umbrella group of Palestinian factions including Hamas also issued a statement pledging to resist any move to disarm, saying “no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people.”
Israel, for its part, continues to insist that Hamas must disarm, and that Gaza must no longer pose any threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will continue to act to achieve all the war’s objectives: the return of all abductees, the elimination of Hamas’s rule and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel.”
On the Ground: War Grinds On
Despite the talks, fighting continues. Overnight airstrikes were reported in Gaza City, and a rocket was launched into Israel, though no casualties were reported.
The human toll continues to mount. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 67,000 people have been killed, including more than 20,000 children, since Israel launched its offensive in 2023. The UN and international bodies consider these figures credible, though Israel disputes them.
Famine has also taken hold, with at least 460 people dying from malnutrition, according to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Qatar has said it will only support the deal if Israel agrees to withdraw from Gaza, allows more aid, and ensures the war ends permanently.
Is Time Running Out?
Trump has urged urgency, saying that if Hamas doesn't act soon, "all bets will be off." Netanyahu reportedly wants talks to wrap within “a few days maximum.”
As the clock ticks, UN Secretary General António Guterres called the moment a “historic opportunity” to end the conflict and warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension.”
With tensions still high and skepticism lingering on both sides, the world is watching to see if this rare moment of alignment between bitter enemies and powerful mediators can turn talk into peace.
