Israel and Hamas are set to continue peace talks on Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, following the first day of negotiations. An Egyptian official familiar with the discussions stated that on Monday, both sides reached agreement on most terms of the initial phase of a U.S.-proposed peace plan by President Donald Trump.
This first phase includes the release of hostages still held in Gaza and the establishment of a ceasefire. At a White House press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that “technical talks” were ongoing with U.S. representatives to facilitate the exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.
While no deadline for the talks was specified, President Trump expressed optimism, stating there was “a really good chance” for an agreement. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in a Monday statement, called Trump’s recent proposal “an opportunity that must be seized to end this tragic conflict.”
The negotiations coincide with Israel marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people. Since then, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The offensive has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents, often multiple times, and restrictions on humanitarian aid have led to a severe hunger crisis, with experts reporting famine conditions in Gaza City.
Source : Africanews/myxyzonline
