Trump Says Chance of Gaza Peace Deal ‘Really Good’ as Egypt Talks Continue

Peace Talks Resume in Egypt
Negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza resumed Tuesday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Delegations from Israel and Hamas are holding indirect discussions through Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The goal is to reach a U.S.-brokered peace agreement focused on halting the conflict and securing a hostage-prisoner exchange.

During Monday’s session, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters, “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.” He said Hamas has agreed to several key points in the plan and that progress has been encouraging.

Key Terms of the U.S. Plan
The 20-point proposal, drafted by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of 48 hostages, 20 believed to be alive, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans. It also ensures humanitarian aid will enter Gaza once both sides sign the deal and proposes that an independent Palestinian body oversee postwar governance.

Hamas has not agreed to disarm or give up any future role in governing Gaza, and Netanyahu has reaffirmed his opposition to creating a Palestinian state. Those issues remain central sticking points.

International Reactions and Outlook
The talks coincide with the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the discussions, calling them a vital chance to end the fighting.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are among those participating. Regional leaders—including Egypt, Qatar, and Iran—have expressed cautious optimism that this round of talks could finally move the region closer to peace.