On Wednesday morning, President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh to participate in crucial negotiations focused on securing the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas and bringing an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This war has now surpassed the two-year mark, underscoring the urgency of these discussions.
The involvement of Trump and his team signifies a strong push for both Israel and Hamas to finalize their negotiations within a matter of days. The indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators commenced on Monday and have shown some positive momentum. However, U.S. and Israeli officials note that the negotiations are expected to reach a pivotal moment only with the arrival of Witkoff and Kushner.
Prior to Witkoff and Kushner's departure for Egypt, President Trump convened a meeting with his top national security team to assess the current status of the Gaza negotiations. On the same day, Trump met with Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who had previously been held hostage by Hamas and was released several months ago. Additionally, Trump held a meeting with the family of Omer Neutra, a U.S.-Israeli citizen killed on October 7, whose body was subsequently taken to Gaza. According to two sources who attended these meetings, Trump conveyed to the families that the next 48 hours are vital for achieving a potential deal.
Joining the talks on Wednesday is Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, along with the heads of Turkish and Egyptian intelligence services. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief adviser, Ron Dermer, will also be present. Senior U.S. officials have expressed cautious optimism regarding the likelihood of reaching an agreement this week, emphasizing that Kushner and Witkoff are determined not to leave Egypt without a concrete plan to secure the release of the hostages and ultimately end the war.
One senior U.S. official commented on the situation, stating, "Bibi has done an excellent job. The military pressure was critical to make Hamas more pragmatic. But now Bibi must understand that the time for a deal has come," referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. This sentiment reflects the growing urgency for a resolution as negotiations continue to unfold in Sharm el-Sheikh.
