U.S. Delegation Led by Steve Witkoff Heads to Egypt for Gaza Peace Talks

A U.S. delegation steered by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Tuesday in a bid to reinforce President Donald Trump’s newly reinitiated negotiations between Israel and Hamas. These talks aim to bring an end to the war in Gaza and launched in Sharm el-Sheikh, southern Egypt.

Restart of Indirect Talks Amid Anniversary

The indirect negotiations coincided with the second anniversary of Hamas’s surprise October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. That assault resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, including 47 who remain in Gaza, with Israel asserting 25 have since died. In response, Israel’s military campaign has claimed over 67,000 lives, mostly civilian, and caused widespread destruction across Gaza.

Trump unveiled a 20-point peace proposal last week, which both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas have accepted in principle, albeit with reservations. Disagreements persist over key points, such as the extent of Israel’s military withdrawal and the question of Hamas’s disarmament.

Meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump remarked there was a “real chance” for an agreement. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized that negotiations center on securing a ceasefire, the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and finalizing maps outlining the first phases of Israeli withdrawal. He said that the plan also calls for “full and unconditional” delivery of humanitarian aid via the United Nations.

U.N. and International Calls for Peace

Ahead of the talks, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Relief agencies say over 2 million Palestinians now face hunger, with some areas experiencing famine conditions.

High Stakes and Unresolved Issues

Trump has demanded Hamas move quickly or risk losing leverage. Netanyahu asserted the talks would last only a few days at most. The U.S. delegation plan includes Jared Kushner, who will help keep the president informed.

Major outstanding disputes include:

• Whether Hamas must fully disarm, and how that would be defined

• Which Israeli forces would withdraw first and from where

• The structure and sovereignty of a future governance model for Gaza

• The scope and timing of prisoner releases: Trump’s proposal calls for Israel to free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and around 1,700 others taken since the war began, including all women and children.

Hamas officials, such as Fawzi Barhoum, expressed determination to overcome obstacles while defending the 2023 attack as a reaction to pressures on Palestinians. Barhoum rejected foreign forces entering Gaza, and an umbrella of Palestinian factions warned they would not cede weapons.

International Response and Next Moves

Qatar’s foreign ministry noted Israel should have halted hostilities already, but expressed cautious optimism over the renewed negotiations. Egypt has refused to accept the idea of a “humanitarian city” for Gaza, stressing that sovereignty must remain intact.

Ceasefires brokered in November 2023 and January 2025 both collapsed—one after two weeks and the other after two months. Many observers doubt this round will be smoother unless parties resolve the core governance, military, and security issues.

Israeli airstrikes, including early Tuesday, continued even as the talks opened, while rockets were launched from Northern Gaza—though no injuries were immediately reported. Israeli forces have simultaneously allowed aid trucks into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The U.S. says it is ready to deliver tons of humanitarian supplies from Jordan, Ashdod, and other transit points, pending a green light for safe corridors.