Senior US figures Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are set to join Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Cairo on Wednesday, injecting fresh momentum into faltering talks between Israel and Hamas as efforts intensify to secure a peace deal and end the 12-month conflict.
Their arrival comes amid heightened diplomatic activity, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Turkey’s intelligence chief also expected to attend.
A source familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that Kushner — son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump — and Witkoff, his special envoy, departed the United States late Tuesday.
The indirect talks resumed Tuesday evening in Egypt's capital but have yet to yield substantive progress. A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that sessions earlier in the day ended inconclusively, with disputes persisting over Israel’s proposed withdrawal maps and Hamas’s demand for guarantees against a resumption of hostilities after any initial agreement.
"The talks are tough and have yet to produce any real breakthrough," the official said, though he noted mediators were "working hard to narrow the gaps."
The negotiations are centred around five core issues: a permanent ceasefire, the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, assurances of sustained humanitarian access, and a long-term framework for post-war governance.
Speaking at a news conference, Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism, stating: “There’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East... we’re going to do everything possible to make sure everybody adheres to the deal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while not addressing the talks directly, warned Israelis they were in “fateful days of decision.” In a social media post, he reaffirmed his government’s war aims: to secure the return of hostages, eliminate the Hamas regime, and ensure Gaza can no longer threaten Israel.
Chief Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, speaking to Egypt’s Al Qahera News, described the group’s participation as “serious and responsible.” He reiterated Hamas’s readiness to reach a deal, but stressed the need for “real guarantees” — particularly from Trump and the wider international community — that fighting would not resume once an agreement is implemented.
Senior Hamas figure Fawzi Barhoum echoed the sentiment, saying the delegation was working to “remove all obstacles” to an accord that fulfils the “aspirations of our people.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all sides to seize what he termed a “historic opportunity” to end the war, offering support for the Trump-led peace initiative. His comments came as Israel marked the second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks — the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
The Israeli military’s subsequent campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,173 people, including 20,179 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are widely regarded as credible by the UN. An additional 460 deaths have been attributed to malnutrition, as Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
In August, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) formally declared famine in Gaza City. The body now estimates over 500,000 people are experiencing "catastrophic" conditions marked by starvation and destitution.
Despite mounting international outcry, Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently denied claims of famine or starvation, rejecting a recent UN inquiry report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza as “distorted and false.”
Public sentiment within Israel is also shifting. Recent polls suggest nearly 70% of Israelis now support ending the war in exchange for the safe return of hostages — a signal of growing pressure on leaders to find a diplomatic resolution.
Source: BBC
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