The third round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas opened Wednesday in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, drawing cautious optimism from mediators seeking to implement the U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza and end months of devastating conflict.

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described the negotiations as “encouraging” and invited U.S. President Donald Trump to attend a potential signing ceremony if a ceasefire deal is reached. The discussions bring together senior representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, reflecting intensified mediation efforts after repeated failures to secure a durable tru

According to Al Qahera News and Egyptian security sources cited by EFE, delegations from Israel and Hamas resumed their talks around 11 a.m. local time. The agenda centers on three issues: ending the war, withdrawing Israeli forces from the enclave, and releasing 48 hostages held by Hamas—both living and deceased—in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel under Trump’s proposal.

For the third consecutive night, no casualties were reported in Gaza, an unusual pause in a conflict marked by relentless bombardments and widespread displacement.

Wednesday’s session includes the direct participation of Egypt’s and Turkey’s intelligence chiefs, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, and a U.S. delegation led by Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha last month, said the group is “ready” to end the war but insists on firm “guarantees” that Israel will halt all military operations. He confirmed that prisoner lists have already been exchanged and said the delegation was demonstrating “the necessary positivity and responsibility to achieve progress and complete the agreement.”

The talks coincided with the second anniversary of Hamas’s 2023 attacks on Israeli territory. Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum reiterated that “there will only be an agreement if the end of the war is final and Israel withdraws from the Palestinian territory.”

Trump’s peace plan—at the center of the current negotiations—envisions a phased process beginning with a hostage-prisoner exchange and leading to the demilitarization of Gaza. It also leaves open the possibility of future talks toward a Palestinian state, a proposal rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A Palestinian source cited by EFE said Hamas continues to demand “guarantees and effective supervision” to ensure Israel’s compliance with any deal, particularly regarding the cessation of military actions and the withdrawal of its troops from the Strip.

While the renewed dialogue in Sharm el-Sheikh has revived limited hopes for a ceasefire, the deep mistrust between the warring sides—and Washington’s dominant role in framing the process—underscore the fragility of any potential breakthrough. For Gaza’s population, now enduring one of the longest and most destructive wars in its history, these talks represent both a distant promise and the last thread of diplomacy left to hold.

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