Hamas has revealed its conditions for ending Israel's offensive on Gaza during the second day of ceasefire talks in Egypt. The Palestinian militant group is engaged in indirect negotiations with Israel at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, focusing on a peace plan proposed by Donald Trump.
Hamas chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya said the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations" but needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated". The talks coincided with the second anniversary of the October 7 attack that triggered the conflict.
Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations from the Oval Office on Tuesday. "I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East," the US president said, referring to prospects beyond just Gaza.
Senior mediators join critical talks
A high-level US team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is set to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday to join the mediation efforts. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who has played a key role in previous talks, will also participate in Wednesday's negotiations.
The presence of senior mediators makes Wednesday a decisive indicator of whether genuine progress is possible. Sources close to the talks described Tuesday's atmosphere as better than Monday's opening session.
Hamas demands full withdrawal
Hamas has set out comprehensive conditions for any ceasefire agreement. Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said the group wants a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and immediate reconstruction under Palestinian supervision.
"The movement's delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza," Barhoum said in a televised statement. An umbrella of Palestinian factions issued a statement vowing "resistance by all means" and saying "no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people".
Israel remains "cautiously optimistic" about the Trump-brokered talks, according to Benjamin Netanyahu's office. However, Israel wants Hamas to disarm and accepts Trump's plan calling for Gaza to be placed under international governance - conditions Hamas has not accepted.
Egypt's strategic mediation role
Only The i reports that Egypt took the mediation lead after Qatar suspended its role in November 2024 following an Israeli strike on Doha. The shift to Egyptian mediation represents a significant change in regional diplomatic dynamics.
According to the BBC, at least 67,160 people have been killed in Gaza including 18,000 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Opinion polls suggest 70% of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for hostage releases.
The talks focus on Trump's original 20-point peace plan, which was modified at the last hour before presentations to Arab and Muslim leaders. Negotiators are treating the plan as a guidebook rather than a finished product, with current discussions focusing on less contentious issues where broad agreement exists.
Sources used: "The Independent", "BBC", "The i" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
