Egypt – Groups of negotiators from Israel and the United States, as well as representatives from Hamas, are gathered at Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss a 20-point plan to bring Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to an end.

US President Donald Trump said there had been “very positive discussions with Hamas” in the run-up to the talks, and urged everyone to “MOVE FAST” to implement a ceasefire. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are part of the US delegation.

A senior Hamas official told the French news agency AFP that the militant group was “very keen to reach an agreement to end the war and immediately begin the prisoner exchange process in accordance with the field conditions.”

Under the proposed framework, Hamas would release the 48 hostages it has been holding since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.  About 20 hostages are believed to still be alive. Israel is in turn supposed to return hundreds of Palestinians it is holding. Most Palestinians in Israeli custody have not been formally linked to fighting groups and include youths and other civilians who have not been charged.