Tel Aviv [Israel], October 7: Yesterday (local time), delegations from Hamas, Israel and the US entered indirect negotiations in Egypt to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip, according to AFP. Before entering the negotiations chaired by Egypt, both Hamas and Israel responded positively to US President Donald Trump's peace plan.
Among Mr Trump's proposals were a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Previous negotiations had stalled because the two sides could not agree on a list of Palestinian prisoners that Hamas had demanded Israel release.
Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, one of the targets of Israel's airstrike on Doha last month, met with mediators from Egypt and Qatar in Cairo on the morning of October 6 (local time), AFP quoted a senior Hamas figure as saying about the meeting, which took place before the round of negotiations in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.
According to AFP sources, the content of this negotiation is to set a date for the temporary ceasefire, as well as create conditions for the first phase of the peace plan. Accordingly, 47 hostages currently held in Gaza will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
On the social network Truth Social on October 5, President Trump welcomed positive exchanges with Hamas and its allies around the world, including Arab and Muslim countries. "I was informed that the first phase will be completed this week, and I ask everyone to act quickly," the leader wrote.
Yesterday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the plan proposed by Mr. Trump, which he said paves the way for lasting peace and stability in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his delegation had arrived at the meeting, while the White House confirmed that Mr. Trump sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and US negotiator for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to the talks.
Gunfire continued to erupt in Gaza on October 6 ahead of the meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, even after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to stop bombing the territory. A source familiar with the situation said Hamas had agreed to halt its military campaign if Israel stopped airstrikes and withdrew its troops from Gaza City.
In another development, Iran has no immediate plans to resume negotiations with European countries on its nuclear program after the other side reimposed sanctions. "We have no plans to negotiate right now," AFP quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as saying, adding that Tehran is assessing the consequences and implications of the move by Britain, Germany and France.
In Syria, local councils vote to elect members of an interim parliament, with a third of the new lawmakers being directly appointed by leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
