Overview

• Indirect negotiations in Sharm El‑Sheikh resumed for a second day to advance President Donald Trump’s 20‑point framework linking a phased cease‑fire to reciprocal hostage‑prisoner exchanges and security arrangements.
• Qatar said all parties have agreed in principle to the U.S. plan and stressed that the challenge is execution, noting the plan envisioned an Israeli halt to fire that has not occurred.
• Egypt announced that U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will join the talks on Wednesday and urged a UN Security Council resolution to adopt the plan alongside consideration of an international protection force.
• Hamas told mediators that ongoing Israeli strikes are a real obstacle to releasing captives and demanded field operations stop, while Israel’s Channel 13 reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his team to show no flexibility at this stage.
• The first round ended with a ‘positive’ tone and a roadmap for timelines and lists, as core files under discussion include Israeli withdrawal mechanisms, detainee exchanges, and full humanitarian access; Arab League officials warned outcomes may take years to crystallize and cautioned the talks could be derailed.