US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that negotiations with Hamas to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages were advancing quickly.
«These talks have been very successful and are moving rapidly. The technical teams will meet again in Egypt on Monday to finalise the details. I am told the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to move fast,» Trump wrote on social media.
A Hamas delegation led by exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Egypt on Sunday for talks with Israeli representatives and mediators from the US and Qatar. Israel’s negotiators, headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, are set to join discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh. The focus is on securing the release of 48 remaining hostages, including 20 who are still alive, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US media that progress in the technical talks would show whether Hamas was serious about the process. He stressed that discussions must not drag on, saying, «We want to see this happen very fast.»
Trump’s Plan
Trump has outlined a 20-point plan to end nearly two years of conflict, free hostages and define Gaza’s future. Hamas has accepted several parts of the proposal, including the prisoner exchange, but has rejected calls for disarmament. Trump welcomed the group’s response, saying it showed Hamas was «ready for a lasting peace,» and urged Israel to halt its strikes immediately.
Mediators in Egypt say efforts are being made to secure a comprehensive deal rather than pursue a phased approach, which in the past has collapsed after initial agreements.
Despite the talks, Israeli airstrikes and shelling continued on Sunday, killing at least 19 people according to Gaza health officials. Some Palestinians voiced scepticism, noting no visible change on the ground.
In Israel, optimism grew as the shekel reached a three-year high and Tel Aviv’s stock market set a record. Some residents in Tel Aviv said Trump’s initiative had given them hope for the first time in months.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces competing pressures from hostage families and the wider public demanding an end to the war, while hardline coalition partners warn against stopping the campaign in Gaza. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has said his party will back the peace effort to prevent it being derailed.
Kursiv also reports that Trump told Israel on October 3 to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza after Hamas accepted parts of a United States peace proposal, including the release of hostages.
