Efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza have accelerated following Hamas’s submission of lists detailing hostages and Palestinian prisoners for a potential exchange. High-level discussions, which began at an Egyptian Red Sea resort on Monday, are set to include senior representatives from both Israel and the United States. The renewed engagement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be closer than ever to implementing his 20-point peace plan.
Joining the dialogue are Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside Benjamin Netanyahu‘s trusted advisor, Ron Dermer. They are expected to arrive on Wednesday, along with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, a nation that has played a significant role in mediating the conflict.
The plan proposed by Trump has garnered broad international support, but several critical details remain unresolved. Key issues include the establishment of a post-war governance structure for the Gaza Strip, the future of Hamas, and the prospects for an independent Palestinian state.
Hamas, the militant organization that initiated the current conflict with an attack on Israeli territory two years ago, has expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations. The group has provided a list of individuals it seeks to have released in exchange for hostages, which reportedly includes prominent figures such as Marwan al-Barghouti, a leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmed Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both are serving multiple life sentences for their involvement in attacks against Israelis.
Negotiations currently center on three primary objectives: halting hostilities, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and finalizing the swap agreement. Notably, Hamas has resisted addressing one of the most contentious issues: Israel’s demand for the disarmament of the group. A Palestinian source indicated that Hamas would reject any such demand as long as Israeli troops remain on Palestinian land.
In Gaza, Israel has moderated its military operations following Trump’s urging, although airstrikes have not ceased completely. Local medical authorities reported that eight individuals lost their lives due to Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, marking the lowest casualty count in weeks.
“We hope from God that a ceasefire would take place as soon as possible, because people can’t bear the suffering anymore,”
said Jehad al-Shagnobi, whose home was destroyed.
Trump’s peace plan envisions the formation of an international body led by Trump himself, alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s administration post-conflict. Arab nations backing the initiative emphasize that it must ultimately lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a prospect that Netanyahu firmly opposes.
Even if a consensus is reached, uncertainties remain regarding who will govern Gaza in the aftermath of the conflict. Netanyahu, Trump, and various Western and Arab leaders have ruled out any role for Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007 after expelling rival factions. Hamas has expressed willingness to transfer governance to a Palestinian technocrat government, provided it is supervised by the Palestinian Authority and supported by Arab and Muslim nations, aligning with a longstanding Egyptian proposal. The group has outright rejected any involvement from Blair or foreign oversight in Gaza.
As the conflict continues, global condemnation of Israel’s military actions has intensified. Numerous rights experts and a United Nations inquiry have characterized the situation as genocide. In response, Israel defends its military actions as acts of self-defense following the significant attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 people into Gaza, according to Israeli records. Gaza authorities report that over 67,000 people have died as a consequence of the ongoing offensive.
