U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to travel to Egypt as indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas continue. They are expected to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday to participate in discussions aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner would be involved in the talks, which are centered around a plan proposed by former President Trump. This plan seeks to establish a framework for peace in the region.
The negotiations resumed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with Egypt and Qatar facilitating dialogue between the two parties. This round of talks coincides with the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks that initiated the current conflict.
According to an Egyptian official, members of the U.S. delegation will join the discussions on Wednesday. Senior officials from Qatar and Turkey are also arriving to participate in the negotiations.
Hamas has requested assurances that Israel will not resume hostilities following the release of remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the conflict will only conclude with the return of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas.
Trump’s proposal includes provisions for an international governance structure in Gaza and the establishment of an international security force following Hamas’s disarmament. The plan has garnered significant international support.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in substantial casualties, with reports indicating over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and significant humanitarian challenges in Gaza. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the situation a humanitarian catastrophe, emphasizing the need for a resolution to the conflict.
