Hamas and Israel prepare to launch indirect talks on hostage issue
Al-Qahera News, a channel affiliated with Egypt's intelligence agency, reported on October 4 that Hamas and Israel will hold indirect negotiations in Cairo on October 5 and 6 to reach an agreement to exchange hostages and prisoners.
According to Al-Qahera News, the two delegations “have begun moving to launch negotiations in Cairo tomorrow and the day after (October 5-6), to discuss the preparation of on-the-ground conditions for the full exchange of detainees and prisoners, in line with the proposal of US President Donald Trump”.
Meanwhile, the US leader on the same day urged Hamas to quickly act on his plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, otherwise "all commitments will end".
On the social network Truth Social, President Trump declared that “no delay will be tolerated” or “any outcome that makes Gaza a threat again.”
Also on October 4, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Palestinian Authority (PA) Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh had a phone call on October 4 to discuss the latest developments related to the US-proposed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry quoted Mr. Abdelatty as stressing that ending the fighting must ensure Palestinians stay on their land, reject any annexation plans, maintain unity between the West Bank and Gaza, and start recovery and reconstruction work soon.
The Egyptian foreign minister expressed hope that international efforts would contribute to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, easing the humanitarian crisis and allowing increased aid into the Gaza Strip.
For his part, Mr. al-Sheikh highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the “positive momentum” from the ceasefire plan to end nearly two years of war and prevent a wider humanitarian disaster, while praising Egypt’s role in defending Palestinian rights.
In another related move, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on October 4 that US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan is a "crucial opportunity" to end the bloodshed "once and for all" in the Palestinian territories.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed hope that the momentum from the US President's plan would "pave the way for a complete cessation of hostilities, followed by rehabilitation and reconstruction", and called for a solution "in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as the much-needed two-state solution".
Sharing the same view with Mr. Turk, the World Health Organization (WHO) also welcomed the US leader's plan, especially the prospect of rebuilding hospitals.
“We have never been closer to achieving peace in the last two years,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. “We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.”
