Cairo, Egypt - Israeli and Hamas negotiators convened in Cairo today to discuss a potential end to the ongoing conflict and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister expressed optimism that hostages could be released within days.
This diplomatic effort follows Hamas’s positive response to a proposal put forth by U.S. President Donald Trump outlining a framework for the release of hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.
israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday he had directed negotiators to travel to egypt “to complete technical details.” Egyptian government media confirmed Cairo would also host a Hamas delegation to negotiate “Field Conditions and Exchange Details of All Israeli Prisoners and Palestinian Prisoners.”
Negotiations between the warring parties are scheduled to take place on Sunday and Monday. The White House announced Trump dispatched two envoys to Egypt: his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Middle Eastern negotiator, Steve Witkoff.
President Trump cautioned that he “will not tolerate the delay” from hamas, urging the group to swiftly reach an agreement “or all bets will be canceled.” Trump stated on social media that Israel had approved an initial withdrawal line in Gaza, which had been shared with Hamas.
“When Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will soon be in force, the exchange of hostages and prisoners will begin, and we will create conditions for the next withdrawal phase,” he wrote, accompanying the statement with a proposed map.
Netanyahu, in a televised address, said, “in the coming days we will be able to bring back all of our hostages… During the Sukkot holiday,” referencing the Jewish Festival commencing Monday.
“Hamas will be stripped… both diplomatically through Trump’s plans and militarily by us,” he added.
on Friday night, Hamas announced “his approval for the release of all hostages – both alive and still remaining – in accordance with the exchange formula included in the President Trump’s proposal.”
Trump promptly lauded the statement as evidence the group was “ready for eternal peace” and called for Israel to halt bombing operations.