On Monday, October 6th, a negotiation took place between the delegations of Israel and Hamas in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm al-Sheikh. The US President has issued a warning that no delays will be tolerated, and negotiators must act swiftly to reach an agreement.
Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, where the negotiations were held, prides itself as the “City of Peace.” The talks occurred on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, resulting in approximately 1200 deaths and the capture of numerous hostages. Israel subsequently declared war on Hamas, initiating large-scale airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based, leading to significant casualties.
According to Egyptian state media reports, negotiations between Hamas and Israel have commenced.
The Hamas delegation is led by Khalil Al-Hayya, a leader exiled from Gaza.
The Israeli delegation includes officials from the intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk, and hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch.
Israel has indicated its support for President Trump’s proposed 20-point Gaza peace plan. Hamas has responded positively to some terms of the peace plan, such as agreeing to release all hostages and relinquish control of Gaza, but has not yet committed to disarmament, a key Israeli demand for ending the conflict. Whether Hamas will commit to disarmament in the negotiations is a matter of great interest.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan represents the closest the Israeli and Hamas sides have come to ending the conflict. The plan has also garnered support from Arab and Western countries. On Sunday, October 5th, Trump urged the negotiators to act swiftly.
“The technical teams will meet again in Egypt on Monday to discuss and clarify the final details,” Trump stated regarding the negotiations in Sharm al-Sheikh. “I have been informed that the first phase should be completed this week, and I urge everyone to act quickly,” he said. “Time is of the essence, otherwise, a large-scale bloodbath will follow – something no one wants to see!”