Overview

• Indirect negotiations began in Egypt with Hamas delegates led by Khalil al-Hayyah meeting mediators before parallel contacts with the Israeli side.
• Egyptian and Qatari outlets reported a constructive first round and a sketched roadmap, with sessions set to continue in Sharm el‑Sheikh.
• President Donald Trump urged swift action and cited very positive discussions, with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner dispatched to support the effort.
• Key disputes remain over Israeli withdrawal lines, guarantees on Hamas disarmament, and large-scale prisoner releases that could include high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti.
• Reports differed on whether Israel’s Ron Dermer attended, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consulted by phone with Vladimir Putin and Israeli hostage families urged the Nobel committee to honor Trump.