His officials and are at the Sharm El Sheikh resort for where Donald Trump hopes to lead to the end of the war to the release of hostages, despite the thorns that remain as the presence of the Israeli forces within it.
Negotiations on US President Donald Trump’s plan were expected to begin on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
First priority of conversations hostages and prisoners
Two Israeli sources reported that Israeli negotiators had arrived at the Red Sea resort, Sharm El-Siech, on talks, which were focused on the release of hostages, part of the 20-point plan by the US President for the end of the conflict. Hamas officials had already arrived earlier in the day.
An official informed of the negotiations, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that he expects that the round of talks starting Monday would not be fast, and would last at least a few days. The immediate agreement is unlikely, as the goal is to reach a comprehensive agreement with all the details to be settled before the truce begins to apply, the official said.
A Palestinian official close to the talks was skeptical of the prospects of a significant development given the deep mutual distrust, saying that Hamas and other Palestinian factions are concerned that Israel – led by the most far -right government in its history – can just abandon them.
Who are the negotiating groups
The Israeli delegation includes espionage officials Mosad and Sin Bett, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, Odeanjah, and Coordinator for hostages, Galis Hirs.
However, Israeli’s leader, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, was expected to take part later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials. Dermer and prime minister representatives did not comment immediately.
The Hamas delegation is leading the exiled leader of the team in Gaza, Halil al-Haya, whose visit to Egypt has been the first since he survived an Israeli air raid that killed his son in Doha, the capital.
Hamas negotiators will seek clarification on the mechanism of exchange of the remaining hostages – living and dead – with Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, an Israeli military retirement from Gaza and a truce.
A thorny issue is likely to be the Israeli requirement, which is reflected in Trump’s plan, to disarm Hamas. The team has made it clear many times that it will not be disarmed unless Israel finishes its possession and created a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu, whose country has been isolated internationally due to the destruction of Gaza, says that a Palestinian state will never be created. Britain, France and several other western countries recognized Palestinian independence last month.
Agree on basics, but there are many thorns
Hamas and Israel agreed on the basics of the Trump plan, though not the basic details. The US president is optimistic after gaining support from Arab and western states.
“They tell me that the first phase should be completed this week and I ask everyone to move fast,” Trump said in a social media post.
German Foreign Minister Johann Vandeful said the talks were the most promising so far, as “for the first time in two years, this is not only a truce, but a sustainable political solution”.
Trump, who intervened for normalization agreements with Israel and many Arab states during his first term in 2020, said his plan for Gaza could lead to wider peace throughout the Middle East and transform the area.
The first phase of the talks concerns the release of hostages in exchange for the Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. There are 48 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 of which are believed to be alive.
Hamas approved the release of hostages on Friday and some other elements of Trump’s plan.
