Indirect talks in Sharm El-Sheikh have injected fresh hope into efforts to end the Gaza conflict, as mediators from the United States, Qatar and Türkiye work behind the scenes.
Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reported “optimism” among negotiators after the group submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released in the first phase of a truce.
Both sides are referencing a 20-point plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump last month, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas is set to free 47 hostages, alive and deceased, seized during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. In return, it is pushing for the release of Palestinian inmates, including Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader serving life since 2004 and often dubbed the “Palestinian Mandela.”
In the Oval Office, Trump said, “There's a real chance that we could do something… We want a release of the hostages immediately.” He added that the United States would do everything possible to ensure adherence if a ceasefire deal is reached.
Behind the scenes, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Türkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are working to overcome obstacles, reviewing initial maps for troop withdrawals and finalizing a timetable for prisoner-hostage exchanges.
As parties haggle over names and terms, the world watches to see if this spirit of optimism can translate into a lasting ceasefire and pave the way for wider peace in the Middle East.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
