Israel & Hamas head to Egypt for ceasefire talks

The negotiations are taking place in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Israel's delegation, led by senior negotiator Ron Dermer, is expected to arrive Monday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Hamas officials, led by Khalil al-Hayyah, arrived in Egypt on Sunday.

The talks will focus on the initial phase of a potential ceasefire deal, which includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, are also expected to join the discussions, according to Egypt’s state media.

This diplomatic push follows Hamas' partial acceptance of a U.S.-backed peace proposal, which has received support from Trump and a cautious endorsement from Israel. Under the proposal, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of whom are believed to still be alive — within three days, relinquish power, and disarm.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the talks are expected to last only a few days. However, some Hamas officials have suggested more time may be needed, particularly to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi praised Trump’s role in advancing the peace effort, saying in a televised address that a ceasefire, the return of hostages and detainees, and the reconstruction of Gaza are essential steps toward lasting peace and regional stability. He emphasized the need to preserve the decades-old U.S.-brokered peace framework in the region.

Bombing Slows Amid Talks

Israel has indicated it is scaling back airstrikes in response to calls from the U.S. to ease military pressure during the negotiations. However, deadly attacks have continued. Since Saturday night, Israeli strikes have killed dozens in Gaza, though the military claimed it was targeting militant threats.

On Monday, the Israeli military reported eliminating a “terrorist cell” armed with explosives and mortars, and destroying another group that had launched a mortar shell injuring an Israeli soldier. It also struck a site used to fire anti-tank missiles.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 19 new deaths in the past 24 hours, including two civilians seeking aid, and 96 injuries. The total death toll has risen to 67,160 since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack sparked the war. Nearly 170,000 people have been wounded, according to the ministry, which is operated by Hamas but remains a primary source for casualty data cited by international organizations.

Hamas militants abducted 251 people and killed about 1,200, mostly civilians, during the initial attack. Most of the hostages have since been released through previous ceasefire deals.

Children of War

In Gaza, children born on the day the war began are nearing their second birthdays amid bombings and displacement. Many families live in tents with minimal belongings, struggling with hunger, trauma, and lack of medical care.

Rola Saqer, a displaced mother from Beit Lahia, said her daughter Masa has suffered from chronic malnutrition and weighs only eight kilograms — the same weight for the past five months.

“I wanted her to grow up strong, but fear and hardship have weakened her,” said Saqer, who had struggled for years to have a child. “She has known nothing but war.”

In a nearby tent, Amal al-Taweel, another displaced mother, said her son Ali was born after three years of trying for a baby. Now, the family lives without sanitation, food security, or access to vaccines and toys, reports UNB. 

“I imagined a happy life for him, in a safe home,” she said. “Instead, his world is war, destruction, and fear.”