Negotiators from Hamas and Israel convene in Egypt’s Red Sea resort to broker a ceasefire and address humanitarian crisis after two years of devastating conflict, amid complex political hurdles and international involvement.
Hamas and Israeli negotiators have gathered in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for talks aimed at ending the deadly Gaza conflict that has now reached its two-year mark. The discussions, brokered under a 20-point peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, focus primarily on securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas, while grappling with deeply contentious issues such as the disarmament of the Palestinian group.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which erupted with Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, has since evolved into the most destructive and deadliest war in recent decades for the region. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is staggering: more than 67,000 Palestinians have been reported killed, the majority of them civilians including one-third children, according to Gaza health officials and verified hospital data. Israel disputes some of these figures, claiming that about 20,000 of those killed were fighters. Meanwhile, Israel has also suffered significant losses, with 466 soldiers and over 1,600 people dead, and nearly 3,000 wounded since ground operations began.
The scale of devastation is immense. Nearly 193,000 buildings in Gaza, including 213 hospitals and over 1,000 schools, have been damaged or destroyed. Only 14 of the originally 36 hospitals remain partially functional, according to United Nations reports, and the blockade and ongoing conflict have resulted in severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and safe shelter. This has contributed to a dire famine risk and malnutrition crisis affecting more than 60% of pregnant women and new mothers, with at least 177 starvation-related deaths reported.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, the Israeli delegation comprises officials from intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser and hostage coordinator. Hamas is represented by its exiled Gaza leader Khalil Al-Hayya, in what is his first visit to Egypt since surviving an Israeli airstrike in Doha. Negotiators from both sides are working through the intricate details of Trump’s plan, which seeks to balance a comprehensive ceasefire, hostage release, Israeli military withdrawal, and Hamas disarmament—an area of deep disagreement. Hamas insists it will not disarm unless Israel ends its occupation and recognises a Palestinian state, a prospect Netanyahu has firmly rejected, thereby defying the stance of many Western countries recognising Palestinian independence.
Despite the uncertainties, both sides have agreed on the fundamentals of the peace blueprint. The initial phase centres on the exchange of hostages—48 remain in Gaza, including 20 alive—in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Hamas has formally approved this formula along with other parts of the plan, though it has avoided committing to disarmament or relinquishing power in Gaza.
The talks, expected to take several days, reflect the complex political pressures on both sides. In Israel, Netanyahu faces growing calls to end the conflict from hostage families and a war-fatigued public, while hardline members of his coalition resist any ceasefire that might allow Hamas to survive. Far-right ministers have even threatened to topple the government if the war ends prematurely. Conversely, opposition leaders have pledged political support to help push the Trump initiative forward.
Internationally, the peace effort has gained momentum with the involvement of key figures such as Qatar’s prime minister, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is part of the proposed international governance mechanism for Gaza envisioned in the plan. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasised the urgency of ending the humanitarian disaster afflicting Gaza and has expressed support for the peace talks.
While optimism is cautious, many Gazans remain wary but hopeful. The conflict has displaced over 2.2 million people, with the vast majority of Gaza’s population uprooted multiple times amid relentless bombing and devastation that has rendered much of the territory unlivable. Aid delivery continues to face enormous challenges, despite the lifting of an 11-week blockade earlier this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged swift progress in the negotiations, highlighting the urgency of the situation. His planned meeting with Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage recently freed from Gaza, underscores the personal stakes and the international attention focused on this protracted conflict.
However, the grim reality remains that any resolution is bound to be fraught with challenges. Hamas’s insistence on disarmament linked to broader political concessions, Israel’s refusal to accede to Palestinian statehood, and decades of mutual mistrust cast long shadows over the talks. The outcome will depend on the negotiators’ ability to bridge these divides and bring an end to a war that has exacted a devastating toll on Gaza’s people and infrastructure.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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