Israel, Hamas Resume Peace Talks in Egypt After Two-Year Conflict
After two years of conflict, Israel and Hamas have resumed peace talks in Egypt, mediated by Qatar and Egypt. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, with Hamas-led militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 in southern Israel. Since then, over 67,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with half being women and children, leaving Gaza in ruins. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the situation as a 'humanitarian catastrophe'.
The talks aim to end the war in Gaza, focusing on US President Donald Trump's proposed plan. The first phase includes the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire. Trump has expressed optimism about the chances of a lasting deal, describing it as 'peace in the Middle East'. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demands Hamas' disarmament, but Hamas has not yet commented on this condition. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the USA and Egypt, started in Egypt focusing on a US peace plan including a ceasefire and hostage release. The current phase aims at freeing hostages and allowing humanitarian aid while working toward a political solution, but final agreements and disarmament remain unresolved. The Israeli delegation is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who instructed the Israeli negotiation team to travel to Egypt to finalize hostage handover details.
The plan envisions Israel withdrawing troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, followed by international governance under Trump and Tony Blair. However, the road to peace remains uncertain, with key issues such as disarmament and final agreements yet to be resolved. The international community awaits progress in these Israel news talks to bring an end to the suffering in Gaza.
