Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan: Indirect Talks Begin Between Hamas and Israel in Egypt:

Cairo, Egypt – Delegations from Hamas and Israel have begun indirect negotiations in Cairo to end nearly two years of war in Gaza, amid cautious optimism and tight security. The talks, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, mark a potential breakthrough as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan gains momentum. According to Al-Qahera News, a media outlet closely linked to Egyptian intelligence, Monday’s (October 6) first round of talks concluded in a “positive atmosphere” and are expected to resume on Tuesday (October 7). This sensitive round of discussions comes just weeks after a controversial Israeli airstrike in Doha that reportedly targeted Hamas’s top negotiators, including senior figure Khalil al-Hayya, who survived the attack. Al-Hayya met with Egyptian intelligence ahead of the Cairo talks, Egyptian security sources confirmed. A Deal in Sight? President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, expressed confidence in the process. “I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important… I think we’re going to have a deal,” he told reporters. He added that he believes the Palestinian group is ready to compromise on key points of his proposal. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner are expected to arrive in Egypt to support the mediation efforts. Trump has called on all parties to “move fast” toward ending the conflict, which erupted following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack—now approaching its second anniversary. Prisoner Swap at the Core At the heart of Trump’s Gaza peace plan is a proposed prisoner and hostage exchange mechanism. Egyptian and Qatari mediators are reportedly working to establish a structured process to release hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. Al-Qahera News reported that “preparing ground conditions for the release of detainees and prisoners” was a central topic of discussion in the early round of negotiations. Ongoing Violence Clouds Talks Despite the ongoing diplomatic push, violence continues in the Gaza Strip. On Monday, at least seven Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes, according to Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza’s civil defence. Footage from the ground showed explosions and thick plumes of smoke rising above the war-torn enclave, casting a grim shadow over the peace efforts. This comes even after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly urged Israel to halt its bombing campaign. A Palestinian official close to Hamas warned that the negotiations would be “difficult and complex,” blaming what he described as Israel’s intent to continue its “war of extermination.” Looking Ahead This round of talks, which may last for several days, is seen as a critical moment in the long-running conflict. While challenges remain, the involvement of high-level mediators and the backing of the U.S. administration have given hope that real progress might be possible. As the region marks the painful anniversary of the 2023 Gaza war, the world watches closely to see whether diplomacy can succeed where violence has only brought destruction.

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