Rushdi AbualoufGaza correspondent, and

Kathryn Armstrong

Watch: Trump tells reporters chance of Gaza peace plan deal is “really good”

Indirect talks aimed at reaching a final agreement on a US peace plan to end the war in Gaza are set to continue on Tuesday in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Palestinian and Egyptian officials have told the BBC that the sessions are focused on “creating the field conditions” for a possible exchange that would see the release of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel’s prime minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of hostages “in the coming days”.

As the officials met on Monday, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House: “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.”

Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part, but has not responded to several key demands – including its disarmament and not having any future role in the governance of Gaza.

A senior Israeli security source said the talks initially would focus only on the release of hostages and give Hamas a few days to complete that phase.

The second day of the talks, which will see Egyptian and Qatari officials holding shuttle meetings with delegations from both Israel and Hamas separately, will be taking place on the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response. Since then, 67,160 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, including 18,000 children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement commemorating the 7 October anniversary that Trump’s plan “presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic conflict to an end”.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his support for the plan in his statement commemorating the anniversary, saying: “We welcome the US initiative towards peace in the Middle East, and this government will do everything in our power to bring about the day where every child of Israel can live peacefully, alongside their Palestinian neighbours, in safety and security.”

These discussions are expected to be among the most consequential since the start of the war and could determine whether a pat
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Rushdi AbualoufGaza correspondent, and

Kathryn Armstrong

Watch: Trump tells reporters chance of Gaza peace plan deal is “really good”

Indirect talks aimed at reaching a final agreement on a US peace plan to end the war in Gaza are set to continue on Tuesday in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Palestinian and Egyptian officials have told the BBC that the sessions are focused on “creating the field conditions” for a possible exchange that would see the release of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel’s prime minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of hostages “in the coming days”.

As the officials met on Monday, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House: “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.”

Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part, but has not responded to several key demands – including its disarmament and not having any future role in the governance of Gaza.

A senior Israeli security source said the talks initially would focus only on the release of hostages and give Hamas a few days to complete that phase.

The second day of the talks, which will see Egyptian and Qatari officials holding shuttle meetings with delegations from both Israel and Hamas separately, will be taking place on the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response. Since then, 67,160 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, including 18,000 children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement commemorating the 7 October anniversary that Trump’s plan “presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic conflict to an end”.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his support for the plan in his statement commemorating the anniversary, saying: “We welcome the US initiative towards peace in the Middle East, and this government will do everything in our power to bring about the day where every child of Israel can live peacefully, alongside their Palestinian neighbours, in safety and security.”

These discussions are expected to be among the most consequential since the start of the war and could determine whether a pat
Read More