Egypt — Indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas, underway since Monday in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, have yet to reach a breakthrough. Despite mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, negotiations remain stalled, prompting Washington to send additional high-level envoys to try to move the process forward.
According to The New York Times, the White House has decided to send Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser, to Egypt to join the mediation. Officials from both the White House and Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed their participation.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also expected to join the talks, with his arrival scheduled for Wednesday. A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry said the negotiations have entered a “critical stage,” making the prime minister’s direct involvement essential. Meanwhile, Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin has also departed for Egypt to take part in the discussions.
Trump’s 20-Point Peace Framework
U.S. President Donald Trump has presented a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending hostilities and securing the release of hostages. The proposal’s key elements include:
An immediate ceasefire in Gaza, halting all air and ground attacks.
The release of all hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance of the plan.
In exchange, Israel would free 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023 — including women and children.
For every deceased Israeli hostage returned, Israel would repatriate 15 Palestinian bodies to Hamas.
Gaza’s temporary administration would be overseen by a technocratic Palestinian committee, monitored by an international body called the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and joined by world leaders including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Hamas and other armed groups would be excluded from governance, while all tunnels, weapons factories, and military infrastructure would be dismantled under a demilitarization process.
Regional partners would act as guarantors of the agreement, and an International Stability Force (ISF) would be deployed to maintain security and train local police.
While comprehensive, the plan still awaits final approval from all parties involved.
Humanitarian Toll and Hostage Situation
The conflict traces back to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, including 10 Nepali nationals, and led to 251 people being taken hostage to Gaza. Of those captives, about 50 are still believed to be held by Hamas, with estimates suggesting only around 20 remain alive.
Since the attack, ongoing Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed nearly 65,000 people in Gaza, according to humanitarian agencies, underscoring the enormous human toll of the war.
According to CNN, Hamas has shown partial agreement with some ceasefire terms but continues to oppose clauses requiring disarmament and barring its role in Gaza’s political administration. These unresolved issues have further complicated progress in the talks.
A Fragile Moment in the Peace Process
Observers describe the Sharm El-Sheikh talks as being at a highly delicate stage. On one hand, there is an urgent need for humanitarian access and relief for civilians; on the other, deep political and security divisions remain — including the future role of Hamas, prisoner exchanges, and long-term stability guarantees.
Diplomats hope the arrival of Trump’s envoys and regional leaders will give the process fresh momentum. Yet analysts warn that lasting peace will require more than dialogue — it will depend on accountability, transparency, and sustained international monitoring to ensure both justice and stability for the people of Gaza and Israel.
