Sharm El-Sheikh : The first round of high-level talks aimed at ending the two-year-long war in Gaza concluded in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. Delegations from Hamas, Israel, the United States, and various mediating countries took part, with the next round of negotiations expected to take place later today.
Sources say Hamas was represented by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, while the U.S. delegation included Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Donald Trump. Qatar and Egypt played central roles as mediators throughout the dialogue.
During the talks, Hamas outlined a proposal for a ceasefire, calling for a step-by-step withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in return for the release of hostages, with a defined timeline. The group also demanded the release of six prominent Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamas stressed that any hostage release must be followed by full compliance from Israel with the terms of the deal.
According to Israeli security officials, Israel’s primary focus remains on retrieving hostages. Hamas has been given a short timeframe to respond. While discussions on further troop withdrawal are possible, Israel is reportedly unwilling to pull back beyond a designated “yellow line” and instead intends to maintain a strategic buffer zone.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that President Trump is pushing for swift progress, particularly on hostage release, so that broader negotiations can proceed. Talks are still underway concerning lists of both hostages and Palestinian detainees.
President Trump has reportedly instructed U.S. negotiators to accelerate efforts to end the war, warning that if Hamas refuses to give up control of Gaza, it could face total destruction.
Sources add that today’s second round of negotiations is expected to dive deeper into the technical aspects of any potential agreement, though the overall outlook remains tense and unpredictable.
