Hamas said on Tuesday it was ready to reach a deal to end the Gaza war based on President Donald Trump’s peace plan. The statement came as high-level mediators from the US and Qatar headed to Egypt to join talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives. The negotiations, taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, aim to secure a lasting ceasefire, free hostages and end one of the region’s most devastating conflicts.
TRUMP SEES “POSSIBILITY” OF WIDER MIDDLE EAST PEACE
Marking two years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Trump expressed cautious optimism about progress toward peace. “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East,” he said in Washington before his team departed. His envoys, special adviser Steve Witkoff and senior aide Jared Kushner, will participate directly in the Cairo sessions. A US official said they are focusing on the hostages’ safety and broader regional stability.
QATAR AND EGYPT PUSH FOR CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGES DEAL
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is joining Wednesday’s talks, underscoring Doha’s key role in mediation. Officials said discussions would focus on a ceasefire plan and the release of Israeli hostages. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said the group came to “engage in serious and responsible negotiations” but demanded a “guarantee” to ensure the war does not repeat. Talks on Tuesday were described as “constructive,” though major differences remain.
HAMAS SETS TERMS, ISRAEL STANDS FIRM
Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum outlined the group’s conditions — an end to the war, a complete Israeli withdrawal, and full reconstruction of Gaza under Palestinian supervision. Israel has rejected these terms and insists Hamas must disarm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a post on X, said Israel was in “fateful days of decision” and vowed to “eliminate Hamas’s rule” while securing the hostages’ release.
PAIN AND HOPE ON BOTH SIDES
As leaders negotiated, civilians marked two years since the war began. In Israel, families of victims visited memorials, mourning lost loved ones and urging the government to bring the remaining hostages home. In Gaza, residents voiced exhaustion and desperation for peace after years of devastation, displacement and fear. “It’s been two years that we are living in horror,” said 49-year-old Mohammed Dib.
The talks, diplomats say, represent the most serious effort yet to halt the violence — but peace in Gaza, and beyond, still feels painfully distant.
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(With inputs from Reuters)