The first round of renewed negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations wrapped up Monday evening with cautious optimism, as sources close to the discussions described the atmosphere as "positive" and confirmed talks would resume Tuesday.
Meeting indirectly in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, negotiators spent Monday mapping out a framework for implementing President Trump's controversial 20-point plan aimed at ending nearly two years of devastating conflict in Gaza.
The timing is heavy with symbolism. Tuesday marks exactly two years since the Hamas attack on Israel that killed over 1,100 people and saw roughly 200 taken hostage the spark that ignited a war which has since claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives.
Hamas representatives, including senior leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin both survivors of a recent assassination attempt in Doha raised concerns about Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza, arguing it complicates efforts to negotiate the release of remaining captives.
Monday's agenda focused on three critical issues: a prisoner-captive exchange, establishing a ceasefire, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches Gaza's desperate population.
From Washington, President Trump struck an upbeat tone, telling reporters he believes "we have a really good chance of making a deal," while noting he still maintains certain "red lines." His press secretary revealed that technical teams are currently finalizing lists of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners who would be released in an initial exchange meant to build momentum.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is leading the U.S. delegation, with the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner also reportedly involved in the negotiations.
Yet even as diplomats talked peace in Egyptian conference rooms, the violence continued. Israeli strikes killed at least ten Palestinians across Gaza on Monday alone, including three people who were simply trying to access humanitarian aid.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged the anniversary while calling Trump's proposal "an opportunity that must be seized." He stressed that only a permanent ceasefire and credible political process can stop further bloodshed and create space for lasting peace.
The conflict has been labeled genocidal by UN investigators, prominent scholars, and human rights organizations—including some based in Israel itself. Nearly 170,000 Palestinians have been wounded, and Gaza's infrastructure lies in ruins.
Whether these talks can succeed where previous attempts failed remains uncertain. Both sides carry deep grievances and face domestic political pressures that could derail any agreement. But after two years of unrelenting tragedy, even modest progress feels significant.
The world watches as negotiators return to the table Tuesday, hoping that the cautious optimism emerging from Sharm el-Sheikh might finally translate into silence falling over Gaza's rubble-strewn streets.
