Two years after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack, and Israel's subsequent military response, representatives from all sides arrived in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss a 20-point ceasefire plan presented by President Donald Trump to halt the conflict.
Indirect peace talks began yesterday with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation, Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera News television station reported. Mediators will then meet with the Israeli delegation, the station said.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators will discuss the outcome of their meetings with both parties, before U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff joins the talks, it said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing that Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were holding talks with "parties from all sides."
Hamas' delegation is being led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya, whom Israel tried to assassinate with a strike on Qatar last month. Israel's delegation will be led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
The two sides have agreed on parts of Trump's proposal.
The first phase of the talks will deal with the release of the remaining 48 hostages, some 20 of whom are believed to still be alive, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The plan also calls for the end of fighting and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Hamas agreed to some of this proposal, while sidestepping Trump's call for it to disband and disarm.
Read the full story. And follow live updates on the peace talks and the Oct. 7 anniversary.
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