Overview

• U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met senior Hamas leaders in Sharm el‑Sheikh in a roughly 45‑minute session that sources say cleared the final obstacles.
• The meeting included Egyptian and Turkish intelligence chiefs and senior Qatari officials, with Hamas negotiators led by Khalil al‑Hayya.
• President Trump had privately authorized Witkoff and Kushner to meet Hamas if necessary, and Witkoff conveyed assurances that the U.S. would back implementation of a 20‑point plan.
• Qatari intermediaries urged the Americans to sit down with Hamas to break the impasse, after which Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad told them a deal had been reached and Trump announced the first phase.
• As the cease-fire took hold, Israeli hostages were released, the pair were publicly credited for their role, and they signaled they will remain involved in the agreement’s next steps.