The diplomatic efforts are multi-pronged, with several nations playing key roles in pressuring both sides. An Israeli delegation, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, arrived in the Egyptian resort town to discuss the specifics of the U.S. proposal. In a parallel effort to facilitate a breakthrough, Turkey has also made contact with Hamas groups holding hostages. U.S. President Trump has praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğa for his role in communicating with Hamas, calling him "very helpful" in the process. These separate but concurrent diplomatic channels underscore the intense international effort to end the conflict that has persisted for over two years.
At the heart of the negotiations is a detailed U.S. plan that calls for the release of all 48 remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and another 1,700 detained since the war began. Of the hostages, only about 20 are believed to still be alive. The proposal outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and a handover of Gaza's governance to an international body. Hamas has reportedly agreed to key tenets of the plan, including the release of all hostages and relinquishing power, but remains at odds with Israel over the timeline and extent of the troop withdrawal and its own disarmament.
Despite cautious optimism, significant hurdles remain. A senior official familiar with the discussions stated the negotiations could last "several days, if not longer," as the goal is to reach a full, detailed accord rather than a temporary truce. Hamas is reportedly pressing for a deeper initial Israeli withdrawal than outlined in the current proposal and seeks guarantees of a complete pullout.[ For its part, Israel maintains that any final deal must include the disarmament of Hamas.
Photo: Gemini AI