A US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to join negotiations in Egypt on Wednesday as part of efforts to end the war in Gaza. The indirect talks, held at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, entered their second day on the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
The Egyptian foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, said the main focus was establishing a ceasefire, securing the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and agreeing on maps for Israeli troop withdrawals. The first phase also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the UN.
The talks follow President Donald Trump's announcement of a 20-point plan, accepted in broad outline by both Israel and Hamas as a basis for further negotiations, although both sides have expressed reservations. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Witkoff and Jared Kushner would take part and stressed the importance of reaching a deal quickly.
Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to achieve all the war's objectives, including the elimination of Hamas, while the UN secretary general, António Guterres, called for an end to hostilities that have caused a humanitarian catastrophe. The conflict began with a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage; the subsequent Israeli offensive has killed more than 67,000 people.
Key obstacles remain, including demands that Hamas disarm, the extent of Israeli withdrawal, and the future governance of Gaza. Hamas officials have said they will not cede weapons or accept foreign administration. The plan proposes an international security force and a technocratic committee, with oversight roles for Trump and former British prime minister Tony Blair.
