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Israel and Hamas prepared for possible negotiations in Egypt on Monday as hopes continue to grow over a possible ceasefire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that a hostage release deal could be announced this week.
The Israeli delegation, led by top negotiator Ron Dermer, will leave on Monday for the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to Netanyahu’s office.
An Egyptian official said the Hamas delegation had already arrived. The official, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief reporters, said US special envoy Steve Witkoff is also joining the talks.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said the talks will focus on the proposed exchange of all remaining hostages for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the move, calling it “the closest we’ve come to getting all of the hostages released.”
Tuesday marks two years since the 7 October attacks on southern Israel, in which Hamas-led militants killed 1,139 people, mainly civilians and took 250 hostages. The attacks sparked a fierce Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Israel’s offensive on the enclave has so far resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures do not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.
So far, some 48 hostages remain under Hamas captivity in Gaza, with around 20 of them still believed to be alive.
On Friday, the group said it was prepared to immediately release all hostages, in accordance with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, but noted that other terms require “further consultation”.
Trump’s “21-point peace plan” for Gaza, unveiled last week in the Oval Office alongside Netanyahu, stipulated many reforms to end the onslaught on the besieged territory, most notably, the release of the hostages and the disbandment and disarmament of Hamas.
The plan, as detailed by Trump, would also seek the appointment of a provisional oversight government in Gaza, run by him and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Trump also noted that Hamas members wishing to disarm and move on would be allowed to remain in Gaza and be given amnesty, while others who oppose it would be given safe passage to exit the territory into other countries.
Speaking to Euronews on Sunday, Netanyahu slammed Hamas’ partial acceptance of the Trump plan, stressing that it must accept all of the terms without delay for peace to materialise.
Trump however took a different approach, with his administration seeing Hamas’ Friday statement as a victory. In a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, Trump responded positively to the group’s announcement.
“Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting peace,” wrote Trump. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly.”
Additional sources • AP
