Trump administration emphasizes urgency as indirect negotiations enter second day in Sharm el-Sheikh
A United States delegation headed by special envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Tuesday to bolster President Donald Trump’s engagement in renewed negotiations between Israel and Hamas seeking to end the Gaza conflict.
The indirect negotiations, taking place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, continued into their second day on Tuesday, coinciding with the two-year mark since Hamas’s surprise assault on Israel that sparked the devastating war.
Trump unveiled a 20-point proposal last week aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas have both accepted the framework as a starting point for negotiations, both parties have expressed significant concerns and are pushing for major modifications to many of its currently vague provisions.
Speaking at the White House during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, Trump expressed optimism, saying there was a “real chance” of reaching an agreement.
Current Focus of Negotiations
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty outlined that discussions are currently centered on establishing a ceasefire, securing the release of Israeli hostages, and freeing a number of Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiators are also examining maps detailing areas from which Israeli forces would withdraw during the initial phase, which would also ensure “full and unconditional” delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza through United Nations channels.
Prior to Tuesday’s session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for an end to the conflict, describing it as creating “a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension.”
The Toll of War
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. Of those taken, 47 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military reporting that 25 are deceased.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in more than 67,000 deaths, primarily civilians, over 170,000 injuries, and widespread destruction across Gaza.
International Support and Pressure
Trump’s proposal has garnered broad international support, including from Arab and Islamic nations. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, would participate in the discussions and keep the president informed, stressing the importance of swift action.
Netanyahu stated the negotiations would be “confined to a few days maximum,” while Trump has warned Hamas must act quickly “or else all bets will be off.”
Major Points of Contention
Significant uncertainties persist, particularly regarding Hamas’s disarmament, the scope of Israeli military withdrawal, and Gaza’s future governance structure.
Fawzi Barhoum, a senior Hamas official, said in a televised address Tuesday that the group’s delegation aims to “surmount all obstacles” to reach a settlement, while also characterizing the 2023 attack as a “historic response” to “attempts to eradicate the Palestinian cause.”
Netanyahu has consistently demanded Hamas’s surrender and disarmament, which has emerged as one of the most disputed elements of Trump’s plan. The proposal calls for eliminating Hamas’s “military infrastructure,” though it remains unclear whether this includes light weapons that Hamas fighters are expected to strongly resist relinquishing.
Highlighting the challenges ahead, a coalition of Palestinian factions including Hamas released a statement pledging a “resistance stance by all means” and declaring that “no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people.”
Proposed Governance Structure
The plan envisions deploying an international security force to Gaza, potentially comprising Arab or Muslim troops. The territory would then be administered by a technocratic committee under international governance, with Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in supervisory roles.
Hamas, which took control of Gaza in 2007, has indicated its willingness to transfer authority to a politically independent Palestinian entity.
However, Osama Hamdan, another Hamas official, told Al Araby television that Hamas would reject foreign administration of Gaza and that the deployment of foreign forces would be “unacceptable.”
Prisoner Exchange Details
The plan includes Israel releasing 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 individuals detained from Gaza since the war began, including all women and children. Intense disagreements are anticipated over which specific prisoners would be freed.
Cautious Optimism
A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that Israel should have already halted operations in Gaza according to the plan, and expressed caution about the negotiations’ prospects following multiple previous failed attempts to end the conflict.
Two earlier ceasefires—in November 2023 and January 2025—both broke down, lasting two weeks and two months respectively.
“I have no doubt that this round of negotiations is a process in which all parties are strongly committed to reaching a consensus, but there are many details to consider,” the spokesperson said, noting that the plan’s provisions “require practical interpretation on the ground.”
Calls for Immediate Action
Trump has urged Israel to halt all military operations in Gaza, posting on Truth Social last week: “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
Gaza City residents reported Israeli attacks continued into the early hours Tuesday morning, though no immediate casualties were reported. A rocket was allegedly fired from northern Gaza toward Israel but caused no damage or injuries.
Humanitarian Crisis
A key component of the plan involves rapidly increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, where more than 2 million Palestinians face hunger, with some areas experiencing famine conditions.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization stands ready to respond.
“The machinery is cranked up and ready to go as soon as we get the green light. There are many thousands of metric tonnes in the pipeline of goods ready to enter from Jordan, the Israeli port of Ashdod and elsewhere,” Dujarric stated.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.
