The US President has sounded a positive horn on the Gaza peace plan deliberations, saying that negotiations thus far have been very successful and are moving ahead at a fast pace.
Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel on ending the war in Gaza and releasing the remaining 47 Israeli hostages-22 of which are alive according to the Israeli army-are being hosted at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh and were set to kickstart this morning with the goal of clarifying the final details of the plan, as Trump himself disclosed.
‘They are telling me that the first implementation phase will have concluded this week, and I am asking everybody to move fast. I will continue to monitor this conflict that has lasted centuries, as time as critical,’ the US President said, adding that if this is not achieved ‘mass bloodshed will follow and no-one wants to see this.’
Notwithstanding Trump’s positivity, the mood is one of guarded optimism as Israel continued Gaza ground and air operations. Sharm El Sheikh talks will focus on the US administration’s 20 point peace plan, accepted by the Israeli plan.
Hamas has expressed the will to seal the deal ending a war that will reach a tragic two-year landmark tomorrow-the day Hamas attacked Israel-and has even expressed readiness to lay down its arms, albeit to an independent international monitoring organisation and provided the Israeli withdrawal is complete.
The US plan calls for immediate ceasefire, releasing the hostages in 72 hours, a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army and the disarmement of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The Trump peace document rules out any Hamas role in governing Gaza and calls for its fighters to be exiled.
Hamas wants negotiations to initially centre on ‘ceasefire mechanisms, Israeli army withdrawal and prisoner exchange.’
The Sharm El Sheikh indirect talks will be the first since Israel bombed Doha last month, targeting Hamas leaders.
Representing the US at the meeting are Trump’s Mideast Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son in law Jared Kushner.
If talks fail, we continue, Israel warns
The Israeli high-level delegation, led by Strategic Affairs minister Ron Darmer, a Netanyahu close confidante, arrived at Sharm El Sheikh this morning, Netanyahu’s office said, as Tel Aviv warned that if talks fail, battles will continue in the Gaza Strip.
‘There is no ceasefire, but a change in operational orders as politicians use our successes on the field to achieve diplomatic gains,’ noted Israeli Armed Forces Commander, warning that if such an effort should fail, fighting will resume.
Key negotiators Egypt and Qatar will be represented by their foreign ministers Badr Abdelati and Mohammed Jasim Al Thani.
Khalil Al Hayia a senior leader, who lives in Qatar, will negotiate on behalf of Hamas. He survived last month’s Israeli attack.
US foreign minister Marco Rubio declared that if a deal is reached, Israeli air raids should cease with immediate effect.
More than 67 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives in two years of fighting, with more than 150 thousand being injured, as the UN has declared famine in many areas of the coastal enclave.