Trump’s Envoys Join Crucial Negotiations on Gaza Deal in Egypt/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and international officials have joined Israel-Hamas talks in Egypt, signaling serious engagement on the most difficult parts of a proposed peace plan. The plan includes a Gaza ceasefire, hostage release, Hamas disarmament, and international governance. Optimism grows, but major issues remain unresolved as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens.
Gaza Peace Plan Quick Looks
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner join Egypt-hosted talks
- Trump peace plan includes ceasefire, hostage deal, Hamas disarmament
- Israel cautiously optimistic, Hamas demands war-ending guarantees
- Qatar’s PM, Egypt, Turkey intelligence heads actively involved
- Fringe Palestinian factions including PFLP, Islamic Jihad now engaged
- Israel’s 2023 retaliation killed over 67,000 in Gaza
- Gaza’s health system overwhelmed; humanitarian crisis deepens
- Ceasefire talks center on hostages, prisoners, post-war governance
- Trump and Tony Blair proposed international governance for Gaza
- Hamas resists disarmament but signals openness to talks
Deep Look: U.S. Joins High-Stakes Israel-Hamas Talks as Gaza Ceasefire Inches Forward
CAIRO — Senior U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, have joined critical negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, marking a pivotal moment in efforts to end the devastating Gaza war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Their presence underscores that some of the most contentious issues — including Hamas disarmament, Israeli military withdrawal, and the post-war governance of Gaza — are now being directly tackled in what may be the most serious peace effort since the war began in 2023.
U.S. Engagement Raises Stakes
Witkoff and Kushner’s arrival on the third day of talks signals the Trump administration’s renewed commitment to its Gaza peace initiative. The plan calls for:
- An immediate ceasefire
- The release of all remaining Israeli hostages
- Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza
- Hamas disarmament
- Gaza placed under international administration led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
While all sides have expressed cautious optimism, the talks remain precarious. The presence of top negotiators, including Qatar’s Prime Minister, Israel’s adviser Ron Dermer, and representatives of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), indicates a broad-based effort to reach an inclusive resolution.
Hamas Seeks War-Ending Guarantees
Hamas, which still holds approximately 48 Israeli hostages from its October 7, 2023 attack, demands ironclad guarantees from the U.S. and mediators that Israel won’t resume its military campaign once hostages are released. The militant group is also pressing for the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of a potential exchange.
Speaking publicly in Egypt for the first time since an Israeli airstrike killed members of his family, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator, reiterated: “We want solid guarantees the war will not return.”
While Hamas has rejected disarmament and opposes international rule in Gaza, it has agreed to step away from governing the territory — a potential breakthrough if the other terms can be agreed upon.
Israel ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ but Firm on Security
Israel has expressed tentative approval of Trump’s peace framework. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it views the ongoing talks as “technical negotiations” over a plan that’s already been broadly accepted.
However, the Israeli government has repeatedly stressed that Hamas must be completely disarmed before any troop withdrawal can be considered. Israel broke a previous ceasefire in March 2025, resuming military operations to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.
With both sides previously clashing over the war’s endpoint, the Trump peace plan aims to bundle all issues — ceasefire, hostage release, prisoner swap, disarmament, and governance — into one comprehensive solution.
Regional Powers Increase Pressure for Peace
The talks in Egypt have seen active participation from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt’s intelligence services, lending weight to the negotiations and limiting Israel’s maneuverability.
Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said this high-level involvement “gives the talks a strong boost toward achieving positive results.”
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nakhaleh announced that a prisoner exchange could happen “within days,” adding pressure on Israel to halt further attacks.
The Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
While negotiations unfold behind closed doors, the human toll in Gaza continues to escalate. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 67,000 Palestinians have died, and nearly 170,000 have been injured since the war began. Hospitals, already overwhelmed, reported 10 deaths and 61 injuries from Israeli strikes in just the last 24 hours.
Much of the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, forcing displaced families into makeshift tent camps along beaches and damaged city outskirts. Clean water, electricity, and food are scarce.
“There is no food, nor good water, and blockage of crossings,” said Um Sulaiman Abu Afash, displaced from Gaza City. “Our kids sleep in the streets. We buy drinking water. Where do we go? There’s no mercy.”
“I hope we return to our places and homes, even if there are no homes,” said Sara Rihan, another displaced woman. “Our existence in our land is the biggest happiness for us.”
A Fragile but Real Chance at Peace
Despite the trauma and mistrust, the Sharm el-Sheikh talks mark one of the most comprehensive peace efforts since the 2023 conflict erupted. The presence of U.S. and regional power players, combined with Hamas’ cautious openness to non-governing roles, suggests that the political groundwork for a deal exists.
But the details — especially around disarmament, security enforcement, and long-term governance — remain difficult and unresolved.
If successful, the Trump peace plan could usher in an unprecedented international administration of Gaza, backed by a multi-nation reconstruction effort and security framework.
Whether that vision materializes depends on the next few days of negotiations — and whether both Israel and Hamas can overcome years of violence, mistrust, and bitter political divides.
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