Hope in the Desert: Israel and Hamas Head to Egypt for Critical Ceasefire Talks

After nearly two years of relentless war in Gaza, a sliver of hope flickers in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where delegations from Israel, Hamas, and the United States are gathering for long-awaited ceasefire negotiations.

Trump’s Push for Peace

In an unexpected twist, US President Donald Trump’s proposalcalling for an end to hostilities and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisonshas received cautious approval from both Israel and Hamas. Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday, urging negotiators to “move fast,” claiming the first phase of the agreement could be completed within the week.

The plan, however, is ambitious. It requires Hamas to disarmsomething the group has historically resistedand Israel to withdraw its troops from Gaza, a move that has divided opinion in Jerusalem.

Cairo Takes the Lead

Egypt, which has long acted as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is once again playing a central role. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has praised Trump’s proposal as “the right path to lasting peace and stability.” Egyptian officials, alongside mediators from Qatar, are expected to help lay the groundwork for a temporary truce.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli strike in Doha last month, met with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Monday morning ahead of the official talks. The goal, according to Hamas officials, is to agree on a short-term ceasefire and outline the first phase of prisoner exchanges: 47 hostages held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

A Fragile Calm on the Ground

While political discussions unfold in luxury conference rooms, the reality in Gaza remains grim. Explosions were still visible across the enclave on Monday, with smoke plumes clouding the skyline. Yet, residents have reported a “noticeable decrease” in the intensity of Israeli airstrikes over the weekend, sparking cautious optimism that both sides might already be preparing for a truce.

Muin Abu Rajab, a resident of Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood, said the tanks had “slightly pulled back,” a sight that locals described as rare relief after months of non-stop bombardment.

Still, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli attacks killed at least 20 people on Sunday, underscoring how delicate the situation remains.

The Numbers Behind the Negotiation

The human toll of this war is staggering. Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,219 peoplemostly civiliansand saw 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations deems credible.

Under Trump’s proposed deal, Israel would release over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for the remaining hostages. The first phase would include those believed to be alive, while the recovery of deceased hostages is expected to follow in later negotiations.

Who Will Govern Gaza?

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Trump’s plan is what comes after the ceasefire. His roadmap explicitly bars Hamas and other factions from any role in Gaza’s future governance. Instead, the territory would be managed by a technocratic administration under a transitional authorityheaded, at least temporarily, by Trump himself.

That idea has sparked skepticism across the region. “We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu and force him to stop the war,” said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of Al-Mawasi, “but Gaza needs to govern itself, not be managed from afar.”

A Tense But Crucial Moment

As negotiators sit down in Sharm El-Sheikh, the world watches a rare moment of potential diplomacy unfold. Whether it leads to a genuine ceasefire or another failed round of talks depends on fragile trust, political will, and the ability of leaderson both sidesto prioritize humanity over vengeance.

For now, the message from Trump and regional mediators is clear: move fast, or risk losing the last chance for peace in Gaza.

{Source:EWN}

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