Gaza talks in Egypt: Trump optimistic, Hamas denies news of disarming
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the first phase of a Gaza peace plan could be completed this week, as the parties gathered in Egypt for a new round of talks. However, Hamas has strongly denied that it has agreed to disarm under Mr Trump's plan.
Today, October 6, a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement will take place in Egypt.
In a post on the social network Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said the first phase of his plan to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip could be completed next week. Mr. Trump revealed that he had "very positive discussions" with Hamas and many countries around the world over the weekend, aiming to release hostages and end the war.
"Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt, to work out and finalize the details. I have been told that the first phase will be completed this week," Trump wrote, noting that any delay would risk "massive bloodshed."
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Egypt on October 5 to participate in the negotiations. Hamas's goal in this round of negotiations is to achieve a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
However, ahead of the talks, a senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, denied media reports that the group had agreed to lay down its weapons under Trump's plan. Hamas said on its Telegram channel that the allegations were "completely baseless" and aimed at "discrediting Hamas's position and misleading the public."
President Trump's comprehensive plan, released by the White House on September 29, includes 20 points, including the establishment of an interim external administration in Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. Israel has announced its agreement with this plan.
On October 3, Hamas responded to Trump's proposal, expressing its willingness to release all Israeli hostages alive and return their bodies. Hamas also confirmed its willingness to hand over responsibility for Gaza to an independent Palestinian technocrat body. However, Hamas noted that the remaining points of Trump's plan regarding Gaza's future should be discussed within a "comprehensive Palestinian national framework."
