On the two-year anniversary of the October 2023 war’s outbreak, indirect peace talks resumed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and unresolved disputes over ceasefire terms and disarmament.
Peace talks between Israel and Hamas entered a second day Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheikh, coinciding with the grim two-year anniversary of Hamas’s surprise attack in 2023, which ignited the protracted Gaza war.
The indirect negotiations hinge on a U.S.-proposed peace plan that envisions a phased ceasefire, the exchange of hostages and Palestinian detainees, and Hamas’s eventual disarmament. While most first-phase terms reportedly were agreed, major sticking points remain, especially Israel’s continued military presence in Gaza and the governance structure post-conflict.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces intensified shelling in Gaza, including tank, aircraft and naval bombardments, underscoring that no ceasefire is yet in force. The war so far has claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with deep humanitarian needs mounting.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for an end to hostilities, calling the conflict “a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension.” “A permanent ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace,” he said. Mediation continues under Egyptian and Qatari auspices, with high stakes as pressure mounts for both sides to seize what many hope is a narrow opening for peace.