Gaza Peace Talks Continue on Two-Year Anniversary of the War/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli and Hamas representatives resumed U.S.-backed peace talks in Egypt on Tuesday, marking the two-year anniversary of the Gaza war. The negotiations focus on President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire and hostage release plan, which could pave the way for an internationally supervised Gaza. Despite cautious optimism, both sides remain divided over Hamas’ disarmament and Gaza’s future governance.
Quick Key Points: Gaza Peace Talks Update
- Location: Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — Day 2 of indirect negotiations.
- Objective: Ceasefire, hostage releases, and a plan for Gaza’s postwar governance.
- Mediators: Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
- Trump’s Plan: Calls for Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal, and international control of Gaza.
- UN Reaction: Guterres urges “permanent ceasefire” and humanitarian aid surge.
- Casualties: 67,160 Palestinians killed; 170,000 wounded since 2023.
- Anniversary: Two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
- Current Fighting: Sporadic Israeli airstrikes reported overnight in Gaza City.
- Delegations: Israel’s Gal Hirsch and Hamas’ Khalil al-Hayya lead their respective teams.
- Humanitarian Crisis: UN says aid is “ready to deploy” once a ceasefire is secured.
Deep Look
Gaza Peace Talks Enter Second Day on Two-Year Anniversary of War’s Outbreak
CAIRO — As the war in Gaza enters its third year, Israeli and Hamas delegations returned to the negotiating table Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, seeking a breakthrough in U.S.-brokered peace talks aimed at ending one of the most destructive conflicts in modern Middle Eastern history.
The discussions — now in their second day — coincide with the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and sparked a devastating war that has since claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives.
According to Egyptian officials familiar with Monday’s closed-door meetings, negotiators reached preliminary agreement on most first-phase elements of a U.S.-drafted plan, including a temporary ceasefire and hostage-for-prisoner exchange. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are private.
Trump’s “Beyond Gaza” Peace Vision
The negotiations center on a proposal unveiled last week by President Donald Trump, who told reporters Monday he believes there’s a “really good chance” of securing a lasting peace deal.
“This is beyond Gaza,” Trump said at the White House. “Gaza is a big deal, but this is really peace in the Middle East.”
The U.S.-crafted plan envisions three stages:
- Ceasefire and hostage exchange, followed by Israeli troop withdrawal.
- Hamas disarmament verified by international observers.
- Transitional international governance in Gaza, to be jointly overseen by Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Unresolved, however, is Hamas’ willingness to disarm — a key Israeli demand. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the militant group must surrender all weapons before any withdrawal, while Hamas has yet to publicly signal acceptance of that condition.
Two Years of Destruction and Loss
The toll of the Gaza war has been catastrophic.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, at least 67,160 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded since the conflict began. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but estimates that over half the victims are women and children.
The war’s devastation has leveled neighborhoods, displaced millions, and fueled accusations from international bodies that Israel’s offensive amounts to genocide — a charge Israel strongly denies.
“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza defies comprehension,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, calling Trump’s initiative “an opportunity that must be seized.”
He added:
“A permanent ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and to pave the way for peace. International law must be respected.”
Negotiators and Mediators
Monday’s four-hour session included indirect talks coordinated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who first met with Hamas negotiators, then later with Israeli officials.
Israel’s team is led by Gal Hirsch, the coordinator for hostages and missing persons from Netanyahu’s office. Hamas’ delegation is headed by senior political official Khalil al-Hayya, who has previously represented the group in truce negotiations.
The U.S. delegation includes Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are keeping the president briefed on progress.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration remains “cautiously optimistic” but emphasized that speed is crucial.
“We don’t have a specific deadline, but the urgency is clear — this needs to get done quickly,” she said.
Humanitarian Aid Readiness
As talks resume, the United Nations and aid organizations are preparing for what could be the largest humanitarian surge into Gaza since the conflict began.
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the organization is ready to move the moment a ceasefire is formalized.
“The machinery is cranked up and ready to go as soon as we get the green light,” Dujarric said. “There are thousands of metric tons of aid already in the pipeline — from Jordan, the Israeli port of Ashdod, and other regional hubs.”
More than two million Palestinians face food insecurity and, in some northern areas, conditions approaching famine, according to U.N. relief agencies.
Anniversary Reflections in Israel and Gaza
In Israel, thousands gathered near the southern border communities attacked by Hamas two years ago, lighting candles and laying wreaths for victims and hostages still held in Gaza.
A rocket fired from northern Gaza during the ceremony exploded harmlessly in an open field, briefly interrupting the commemoration but causing no injuries.
Inside Gaza City, residents described overnight airstrikes continuing until dawn despite the ongoing negotiations. No new casualties were reported by local hospitals as of Tuesday morning.
The Road Ahead
While the first day of talks yielded cautious optimism, analysts warn that the path to peace remains fraught. The questions of Hamas’ disarmament, Israeli withdrawal timelines, and postwar governance could derail progress if either side hardens its stance.
Still, many diplomats believe that even a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal could mark a critical turning point after two years of war.
“The suffering on both sides has gone on far too long,” said an Egyptian mediator. “If both parties can even agree to stop shooting, that alone would be historic.”
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