Gaza Peace Talks Underway in Egypt: Key Divisions Persist on Hostages, Hamas Future

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have commenced indirect talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, marking the most significant diplomatic effort to end the Israel-Gaza war in two years. The discussions revolve around a 20-point peace plan proposed by Donald Trump, which Israel has accepted and Hamas has partially agreed to, but major sticking points remain.

A primary hurdle is the **hostage release structure**. Trump’s plan calls for all remaining hostages to be freed within 72 hours of a deal. Approximately 48 Israeli hostages are believed to be in Gaza, with 20 thought to be alive. While Trump indicated a release could be ‘very soon’ and Netanyahu suggested before October 13th, Hamas has agreed to the ‘exchange formula’ contingent on unspecified ‘field conditions.’ Trust is critically low, underscored by a recent Israeli attempt to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Doha.

Another significant point of contention is **Hamas disarmament**. Israel’s stated goal is the destruction of Hamas, with Netanyahu vowing the group will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized. However, Hamas has historically refused to lay down its weapons without the establishment of a Palestinian state, and its recent response to the plan made no mention of disarmament, suggesting its position remains unchanged.

The **future governance of Gaza** also presents a challenge. The Trump plan envisions Hamas having no future role, with a temporary transitional body of Palestinian technocrats, supervised by a ‘Board of Peace’ chaired by Trump, eventually handing governance to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Netanyahu, despite agreeing to the overall plan, has expressed opposition to PA involvement, facing pressure from ultranationalist hardliners. Hamas, conversely, seeks a role in Gaza’s future as part of ‘a unified Palestinian movement,’ a stance likely unacceptable to both Israel and the Trump administration.

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