Overview

• Russia’s Foreign Ministry publicly endorsed the U.S. 20‑point proposal centered on a ceasefire, hostage releases and humanitarian access, and Sergey Lavrov called it the best option currently acceptable to Arabs and not rejected by Israel.
• President Donald Trump said he had just spoken with Middle East interlocutors, asserted that an Israel‑Palestine settlement is very close, and indicated his personal involvement will soon be needed.
• Indirect Israel‑Hamas negotiations have resumed in Sharm el‑Sheikh with Egypt and Qatar mediating and with Turkish participation, while U.S. envoy Steve Whitkoff and adviser Jared Kushner are on hand for the talks.
• The Financial Times reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu edited elements of the U.S. plan regarding troop redeployments and the future role of the Palestinian Authority, changes Arab diplomats say Hamas would not accept.
• After Trump’s optimism, Netanyahu voiced hope that all Israeli hostages will return home, while Hamas has signaled willingness to free living captives and return bodies but questioned meeting a 72‑hour deadline under current conditions.