The Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to arrive in Egypt to participate in renewed negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Witkoff will be joined by Jared Kushner, former White House adviser and Trump’s son-in-law, both key figures behind the administration’s 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza conflict. Their participation is being viewed as a potential sign of progress in the long-running mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas.
President Donald Trump, speaking in Washington, expressed optimism about the peace process. “I think we’re doing very well,” he said on Monday, adding that Hamas was “agreeing to things that are very important,” though he declined to provide further details.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that Witkoff would travel to Cairo “within hours” to join the talks, which are taking place in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. The discussions began Monday, one week after Trump unveiled his new peace framework.
Alongside U.S. representatives, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are also expected to attend. Qatar described this stage of the negotiations as “critical,” emphasizing the need for tangible progress on both sides.
On Friday, Hamas released a statement indicating its readiness to cooperate with Trump’s proposal, suggesting a potential exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. However, the group noted that “field conditions” in Gaza would have to be suitable for such an exchange to occur.
Israel’s government responded by saying preparations were underway for a potential release of hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that his government supports Trump’s plan, calling it one that “achieves our war aims.”
Despite this, major obstacles remain. Hamas has not accepted other elements of Trump’s proposal, such as the demilitarization of Gaza, a core demand from Israel. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the war will not end until Hamas fully disarms.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the administration was working “to move the ball forward as quickly as we can,” emphasizing that the president’s priority is “a cease-fire and the release of all hostages.”
The talks come as both Israelis and Palestinians mark two years since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that triggered the current war. Israeli authorities report that about 1,200 people were killed in that assault, while the Gaza Health Ministry claims more than 65,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, with no distinction made between civilians and fighters.
The coming days in Egypt are expected to be decisive for the future of the Gaza peace talks — and for whether the Trump administration’s new initiative can bring an end to one of the region’s most devastating conflicts.
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