Egypt's Sisi says Gaza deal in sight as Witkoff, Kushner, Qatari PM join talks
As chief negotiators gather in Egypt, negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to accelerate.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday he was optimistic about Israel and Hamas reaching a deal to end the Gaza war and invited US President Donald Trump to attend the signing of the agreement if and when it is reached.
Sisi’s statement came as senior Israeli, US, Turkish and Qatari delegations — including chief Israeli negotiator Ron Dermer, US envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin — arrived in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the negotiations are taking place. Their presence signaled progress in the talks that were launched Monday by lower-level professional teams.
Hamas said Wednesday it had provided Israel with a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants freed in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza. A statement published by senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu on the group’s social media accounts said the talks are focused on establishing mechanisms to end the war and secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
“The mediators are making great efforts to remove every obstacle to the implementation of a ceasefire, and there is an optimistic spirit among everyone," the statement added.
What’s on the table
Trump’s plan, published after his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Sept. 29, calls for the release of all 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza within 72 hours. Israel estimates about 20 remain alive. In exchange, Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained on or after Oct. 7, 2023, including all women and minors.
The plan envisions a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from the Strip. Hamas would be disarmed and its military infrastructure dismantled, including tunnels and weapons manufacturing sites. Gaza would be demilitarized. Hamas militants who renounce violence and agree to demilitarize would be allowed either to remain in the enclave or leave for “receiving countries.”
For an initial period, Gaza would be administered by a Palestinian technocratic government supervised by an international “peace board” chaired by Trump himself, with representatives from the international community and Arab states. Once the Palestinian Authority completes a series of reforms, it would assume governing responsibilities. The plan frames these moves as part of a path toward Palestinian statehood and calls for a “Trump economic development plan” for Gaza’s reconstruction.
According to Channel 12 on Tuesday, the first round of negotiations focused on immediate steps under Trump’s plan: procedures for the release of Israeli hostages and the identities of Palestinian prisoners to be freed. The longest-serving Palestinian prisoners would be released first, but Israel demands veto power to block the release of those such as Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader serving multiple life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis during the second intifada.
Negotiations intensify
The first round of talks between Israel and Hamas included mostly professional teams rather than chief negotiators, with American, Egyptian and Qatari representatives mediating.
The Israeli team that arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh Monday included the coordinator for captives and missing persons, Gal Hirsch; the military’s hostage coordinator, Yoav Alon; the prime minister’s political adviser, Ophir Falk; and representatives from the Shin Bet and Mossad. The Jerusalem Post reported Monday the Hamas delegation was led by Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported Wednesday that representatives of the Islamic Jihad group were also expected to join the talks. The group is believed to be holding some of the hostages.
The senior envoys' arrival suggested that the first round was successful and opened the way for deeper talks. Kalin’s presence marks the first time Turkey has joined the mediators in Israel-Hamas negotiations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists Wednesday, “Trump specifically asked us to talk to Hamas and persuade them, and we promptly got in touch with our interlocutors on this matter.” He added, “Hamas told us in its response that it is ready for peace and negotiations. In my view, this is a very valuable step.”
Citing unnamed Israeli officials, Haaretz reported on Wednesday Israel’s security establishment is optimistic about reaching a deal with Hamas. The report said the Americans, Egyptians and Qataris are pressing both sides harder than ever to conclude an agreement and that Turkey’s involvement adds further pressure on Hamas.
Hamas reportedly expressed reservations about the Israeli military’s phased withdrawal lines as drawn on the map presented by the US administration.
The group wants Israeli forces to pull back further in the first stage and insists the process end with a full withdrawal from the Strip. Israel, meanwhile, insists on retaining a security perimeter at the end of the withdrawal process and opposes a full pullout, seeking to keep control over areas inside Gaza along the border.
