Gaza peace talks gain traction on war’s second anniversary

Peace talks between Israel and Hamas resumed yesterday (7 October) at Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, coinciding with the second anniversary of the militant group's surprise attack on Israel that triggered the devastating war in Gaza.

The renewed round of indirect negotiations is centred on a peace plan proposed last week by US President Donald Trump, which aims to end the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told Egypt's Qahera TV that the group seeks guarantees of a permanent ceasefire as part of any agreement involving the release of the remaining 48 hostages—around 20 of whom are believed by Israel to still be alive.

It marked his first public appearance since an Israeli airstrike in Qatar last month targeted him and other top Hamas figures, killing six people, including his son and office manager.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already accepted Trump's plan, which calls for the immediate release of hostages, Hamas's disarmament, and placing Gaza under international administration—conditions yet to be endorsed by Hamas.

Netanyahu's office said Israel was "cautiously optimistic," describing the ongoing discussions as technical negotiations on a framework both parties have tentatively approved.

Trump's initiative has drawn wide international support. Speaking to reporters Monday, the US president said he believed there was a "really good chance" of reaching a lasting peace deal.

Momentum appeared to build further as Qatar announced that its prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, would travel to Egypt today (8 October) to join the mediation efforts. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Netanyahu's senior adviser Ron Dermer are also expected to participate.

Trump's peace plan

The US-brokered proposal envisions Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza once Hamas disarms, to be followed by the deployment of an international security force. The plan also calls for Gaza to come under international governance, overseen by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In a statement yesterday (7 October), Hamas reiterated its demands for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, without mentioning the issue of disarmament.

The war erupted on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 others. Most hostages have since been released through ceasefire deals.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 67,160 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 injured in the ensuing conflict. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters but says about half of the dead are women and children. The United Nations and independent analysts regard its data as the most credible estimate of casualties.
Several international experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said Israel's military campaign amounts to genocide—an allegation Israel vehemently rejects.

 Yesterday, thousands of Israelis gathered at the sites attacked two years ago to commemorate the victims and hostages. During the memorial, a rocket fired from northern Gaza exploded nearby, though no damage or casualties were reported.

In Gaza City, residents said Israeli strikes continued until early Tuesday, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Humanitarian lifeline in focus

Ahead of the latest talks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Gaza conflict as "a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defies comprehension."

Trump's proposal, he said, "offers an opportunity that must be seized to end this tragic conflict."

Egypt and Qatar, which have mediated between Israel and Hamas throughout much of the war, are again facilitating the current round of discussions. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Monday's talks lasted around four hours.

Witkoff, Kushner, and Dermer are due to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, according to US and Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as their trips had not yet been formally announced.

A key element of Trump's plan is to accelerate the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians are facing severe hunger and, in some areas, famine conditions.