Israel, Hamas, and US officials have begun Egypt-hosted ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Gaza war and exchanging hostages.
Delegations from Israel, Hamas, and the United States were set to begin ceasefire negotiations in Egypt on Monday, nearly two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the Gaza war. The talks, convened in Sharm El-Sheikh, follow a proposal by US President Donald Trump urging both sides to “move fast” toward peace and the release of hostages.
Hamas’s negotiator Khalil al-Hayya was scheduled to meet mediators from Egypt and Qatar ahead of broader discussions. Negotiators aim to agree on a temporary truce and begin the first phase of Trump’s plan, which includes releasing 47 hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for Israel to halt strikes, saying, “You can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism, while Hamas insisted Israel must cease all military operations before progress can be made.
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