President Donald Trump is pressing Israel and Hamas to seal a settlement to the two-year conflict that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East as the warring sides are set to begin mediated talks on Monday.
The first sign of whether the negotiations, being hosted by Egypt, are serious will be whether Hamas follows through on Trump’s demand to release all the remaining hostages, including those who died, in return for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were traveling to Egypt to take part in the talks, which will be held in Sharm el Sheikh. An Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is set to take part in the indirect talks, while Israel’s Kan News reported Ghazi Hamad, Osama Hamdan and Muhamed Darwish will represent Hamas.
“I am told that the first phase should be completed this week,” Trump said in a post on social media platform Truth Social, adding that discussions on the peace deal have been “very positive” and he is pressing all parties to move quickly.
Trump, who has laid out a 20-point plan to end the war, has made it clear that he is losing patience with both Hamas and Israel, even as the militant group has yet to accept the full proposal, which would include its ultimate disarmament.
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