Trump’s Envoys Head to Egypt for High-Stakes Gaza Peace Talks as Hopes Rise for Breakthrough
Two senior American figures — US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law and senior adviser to former President Donald Trump — are set to join crucial Gaza peace plan talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday.
Their participation marks a major push by the Trump-led US diplomatic team to advance a ceasefire and hostage release deal, following a second day of indirect talks on Tuesday that ended without tangible progress, according to a senior Palestinian official quoted by the BBC.
Trump: “There’s a Possibility for Peace in the Middle East”
Speaking as Israelis observed the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, Trump struck a notably optimistic tone. “There’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East,” he said, emphasizing that his administration was doing “everything possible” to ensure all parties honor the deal being discussed.
The optimism contrasts with the tense atmosphere surrounding the talks, as negotiators remain deeply divided on key issues, including Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas’s demand for international guarantees that fighting will not resume after an initial ceasefire.
Netanyahu: “Fateful Days of Decision”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refrained from commenting on the status of the negotiations but described the moment as “fateful days of decision.”
In a post on X, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s core war objectives: “The return of all the kidnapped, the elimination of the Hamas regime, and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel.”
While Trump’s envoys — Witkoff and Kushner — were scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, their mission underscores the high stakes surrounding Trump’s proposed 20-point Gaza peace plan, which aims to end hostilities and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Regional Powers Step In
According to Reuters, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, a key mediator, will also attend the Cairo talks, joined by Turkey’s intelligence chief.
The Qatari leader’s participation is viewed as critical to “pushing forward the Gaza ceasefire plan and hostage release agreement,” a regional official told Reuters.
These efforts follow months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey — countries that have maintained communication channels with both Israel and Hamas — as pressure mounts to end the devastating conflict.
Disagreements Over Withdrawal and Guarantees
A senior Palestinian source told the BBC that Tuesday’s evening session began at 7 p.m. local time but ended with no breakthrough. Disagreements persisted over the maps detailing Israel’s proposed withdrawal from Gaza and the security guarantees Hamas demands before committing to any deal.
“The talks are tough and have yet to produce real progress,” the source said, adding that mediators “are working tirelessly to close the gaps between the two sides.”
Despite the deadlock, there is cautious hope that the arrival of the US team could help narrow differences and bring about a framework for a lasting ceasefire.
Hamas: “We Need Real Guarantees”
Chief Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, speaking to Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, said the group was participating in “serious and responsible negotiations.”
“Hamas is ready to reach an agreement, but we need real guarantees from Trump and the international community that the war will end and not restart,” al-Hayya emphasized.
Another senior Hamas official, Fawzi Barhoum, said negotiators were “working to remove all obstacles to an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people.”
Key Issues on the Table
According to Palestinian officials, the negotiations center on five main issues:
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Establishing a permanent ceasefire.
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Exchanging Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
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Implementing a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
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Ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians.
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Outlining a post-war governance structure for the territory.
Global Pressure for Peace
The talks come amid growing global pressure to end the conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Trump’s plan a “historic opportunity” to “bring this tragic conflict to an end.”
Guterres’s remarks coincide with shifting public opinion inside Israel. Recent polls indicate that about 70 percent of Israelis now favor ending the war in exchange for the safe release of hostages.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The war, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, has left Gaza devastated.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 67,160 people, including 18,000 children, have been killed by Israeli air strikes and ground operations. These figures, regarded as reliable by the United Nations, highlight the catastrophic scale of civilian suffering.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) — a UN-backed body — reported in August that more than 500,000 people in Gaza were living in “catastrophic” conditions marked by **starvation, destitution, and death.”
Despite mounting evidence, Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that famine conditions exist in Gaza.
International Legal and Political Fallout
In June, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza — an accusation Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed as “distorted and false.”
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation and persecution.
Although the ICC has not yet charged them with genocide, the move has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and increased diplomatic urgency for a negotiated peace.
Trump’s Peace Gamble
For Trump, who has made Middle East peace a cornerstone of his foreign policy vision, the Cairo talks represent both a diplomatic opportunity and a personal test of influence.
“The desire for peace goes beyond Gaza,” Trump told reporters. “We want the hostages released immediately, and we want an agreement that lasts.”
As the negotiations continue, the world watches closely — hoping that diplomacy can succeed where war has only brought destruction.