US Envoys Arrive in Egypt as Gaza Ceasefire Talks Intensify
US Envoys Arrive in Egypt as Gaza Ceasefire Talks Intensify
A high-level U.S. delegation, including envoy Steve Witkoff and former President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived in Egypt today, October 8, 2025, to join critical indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas. The negotiations, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, are centered on a comprehensive plan proposed by Mr. Trump last week, aiming to bring an end to the devastating war in Gaza.
The arrival of the U.S. officials coincides with the second day of renewed discussions in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday that Witkoff and Kushner would participate, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty further detailing their Wednesday involvement. Senior officials from Qatar and Turkey are also converging on Sharm el-Sheikh, underscoring the international urgency surrounding the negotiations.
At the heart of the talks is Mr. Trump’s plan, which envisions Israel withdrawing troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, followed by the deployment of an international security force and international governance for the territory, potentially overseen by Mr. Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted this framework, insisting the war will conclude only with the return of all remaining hostages and the disarmament of Hamas, an organization both the U.S. and Israel classify as terrorist.
Hamas, however, reiterated its long-standing demands on Tuesday for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, notably omitting any mention of disarmament. A senior Egyptian official involved in the talks revealed Hamas is seeking guarantees that Israel will not resume hostilities after the release of the remaining 48 hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack, with Israel believing 20 are still alive.
The conflict, which began two years ago on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attacks killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and led to 251 abductions, has since claimed at least 67,160 Palestinian lives and wounded nearly 170,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The humanitarian crisis is dire, with over 2 million Palestinians facing hunger and famine in some areas, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call Trump’s proposal “an opportunity that must be seized.”
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari noted Monday’s talks lasted about four hours, with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also set to join the negotiations today. Delegations include Israel’s coordinator for hostages, Gal Hirsch, and Hamas’s top negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya. Mr. Trump expressed optimism on Monday, stating he believes there’s a “really good chance” for a lasting deal, emphasizing the broader goal of “peace in the Middle East.”
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.