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Hamas officials arrived in Egypt on Sunday for renewed negotiations with Israel, a move Washington hopes will lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that “the next days are critical,” noting the talks will reveal whether Hamas is serious about peace.
Israeli negotiators, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, were expected to join the discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. The talks form part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war, freeing hostages, and shaping Gaza’s future.
Trump said negotiations were “advancing rapidly,” urging all sides to “move fast” to complete the first phase this week — the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’ delegation, led by Gaza’s exiled chief Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt late Sunday, marking his first visit since surviving an Israeli strike in Doha last month.
While Hamas has agreed to several key elements of Trump’s plan, it continues to reject demands for disarmament. Trump, however, praised Hamas’ response, saying it signaled readiness for “a lasting peace,” and called on Israel to halt its strikes on Gaza — which have continued, killing at least 19 people on Sunday, according to Gaza health officials.
Negotiators in Egypt are now focused on achieving a comprehensive agreement before enforcing a ceasefire, avoiding the phased approach that caused past talks to collapse. Rubio warned the process “cannot take weeks or even multiple days.”
Despite the ongoing violence, optimism is growing in Israel. The shekel hit a three-year high and Tel Aviv stocks reached record levels. While right-wing ministers oppose ending the war, opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed to support the Trump-led deal to ensure it succeeds.
Since Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, Israel’s military campaign has claimed over 67,000 lives in Gaza, deepening its global isolation.
