Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war have entered a crucial phase, with indirect negotiations starting on Monday in Egypt, on the basis of the 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
The plan calls for an end to the hostilities, the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages—around 20 of whom are believed to be alive—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, and the eventual establishment of a technocratic Palestinian authority to govern Gaza.
Trump steps up pressure on Israel and Hamas
Trump’s involvement has been anything but passive. In recent days, he has exerted considerable pressure on both Israeli and Palestinian sides, urging negotiators to move fast or face what he described as massive bloodshed.
Yesterday, he described the process so far as "very successful", pushing for the first phase to be completed within the week.
His approach has included direct confrontation. Following Hamas’ response to the peace proposal—which, while cautiously welcomed, did not resolve all key issues—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly dismissed it as meaningless.
In a tense exchange, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu he was "always so fu***ng negative", according to Axios. He has also called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing, signalling a more assertive US posture in restraining Israeli military operations during negotiations.
Trump has been extremely hard on Hamas as well, warning that a refusal to disarm and give up power would result in its total obliteration.
The Egypt negotiations
By last evening, preparations were finalised for indirect negotiations in Egypt, set to begin this morning at the resort town of Sharm El Sheikh. A senior Hamas delegation, led by Khalil Al Hayya, arrived last night, while an Israeli delegation under Ron Dermer is arriving today.
US negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have also been dispatched to support the talks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed cautious optimism, stating that Israel was the closest to a hostage deal since January. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment, saying this was the closest they had come to getting all of the hostages released.
The immediate priority of the negotiations is the release of hostages in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal from certain areas of Gaza. Rubio emphasised that a temporary ceasefire is essential to allow logistical preparations, including Red Cross access to hostages.
Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues
Despite calls for a halt in fighting, Israeli military operations continued over the weekend. Airstrikes and tank fire hit several areas across Gaza, including Gaza City and Rafah.
At least 24 Palestinians were killed yesterday, including four individuals near an aid distribution centre: an incident the Israeli military has denied responsibility for.
The humanitarian crisis remains severe. Explosions rocked the territory throughout Sunday, with displaced families queueing for food at community kitchens in Khan Younis and seeking shelter in overcrowded tent camps in Nuseirat.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has now claimed 67,139 Palestinian lives, with nearly 170,000 injured.
While Hamas has expressed willingness to release the hostages, the prospect of long-term peace is still bleak.
Underlying tensions
Israel is unlikely to compromise on its demand that Hamas must be removed from power and disarmed. Hamas, for its part, has shown limited openness to a transitional governance model involving a technocratic Palestinian committee, and has so far resisted full disarmament or withdrawal from future influence.
Rubio acknowledged the depth of the challenge, saying that resolving the governance question cannot be done in a matter of days. The transition, if it occurs, will likely involve complex political manoeuvring and external guarantees.
Domestic Israeli politics further complicate matters. Hard-line ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition have threatened to bring down the government if Hamas is not completely destroyed.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israel will maintain control over parts of Gaza necessary for its security, even after any ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ public statements continue to omit any commitment to disarmament, keeping core issues unresolved.