Israel And Hamas Initiate Indirect Talks In Egypt To Discuss Ceasefire Proposal Amid Ongoing Conflict

Israel and Hamas are set for indirect talks in Egypt to discuss a 20-point ceasefire proposal aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict. Key issues include troop withdrawals and a prisoner swap amid ongoing violence.

Israel and Hamas are gearing up for indirect talks in Egypt, aiming to potentially end the Gaza conflict. These discussions are centred around a 20-point ceasefire proposal by Donald Trump. Khalil al-Hayya leads the Hamas delegation, which arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday. They plan to discuss ceasefire mechanisms, Israeli troop withdrawal, and a prisoner swap starting Monday.

Ceasefire Hopes Amid Ongoing Conflict

Despite Trump's call for a pause in Israel's Gaza offensive, bombings persist. On Sunday, Israeli forces killed at least 24 Palestinians, including four asylum seekers near Rafah's aid centre. Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud reported continued attacks in central Gaza and Gaza City, where military assaults have been intense recently.

The Israeli team, led by Ron Dermer, will join the negotiations on Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism about announcing a deal to release remaining captives soon. Meanwhile, US President Trump noted rapid progress in talks and urged swift action to finalise details.

International Support for Negotiations

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and the UAE issued a joint statement supporting Hamas's steps towards Trump's plan. They praised Trump's call for Israel to halt bombings and appreciated his peace efforts. The ministers also backed Hamas's readiness to transfer Gaza administration to an independent committee.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the war isn't over despite nearing hostage release agreements. He urged Israel to halt strikes before Egypt talks commence. "You can't release hostages amid strikes," Rubio told CBS.

Challenges in Implementing Trump's Plan

Trump's plan involves Hamas releasing captives and Israel withdrawing troops to August's "yellow line." However, Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would maintain control over Gaza areas for security reasons. "Hamas will be disarmed," he said.

Izzat al-Risheq from Hamas welcomed Arab support as crucial for ending the conflict and achieving Palestinian statehood with Jerusalem as its capital. He called for more Arab and Islamic backing against aggression in Gaza.

Trump dispatched envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Egypt for negotiations. He assured Hamas that agreeing to Israel's initial withdrawal line would trigger an immediate ceasefire. While most parties agree on Trump's plan, he hinted at possible changes if needed.

Gaza's Government Media Office reported over 8,500 people removed from civil records due to conflict over two years. Among them were 1,015 infants under one year old and numerous medical staff and journalists killed during this period.