Esther Imonmion
The Gaza ceasefire negotiations gained renewed momentum on Wednesday following the arrival of US special envoy Steve Witkoff and former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Cairo to participate in high-stakes mediation efforts.
Their involvement marks the most direct US engagement in the ongoing talks aimed at ending the devastating Gaza conflict, which has entered its second year. The negotiations, mediated by Egypt, have so far yielded little progress after two days of indirect discussions between Israeli and Hamas representatives.
Former President Donald Trump, commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, expressed optimism, calling the peace effort a “historic opportunity.” “There’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the talks as “fateful days of decision,” reaffirming Israel’s goals in a post on X: “The return of all the kidnapped, the elimination of the Hamas regime, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
Diplomatic sources confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner left the United States on Tuesday night and arrived in Cairo early Wednesday. They join Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, a central mediator, as well as the head of Turkish intelligence, both of whom are expected to help bridge gaps between the sides. Al Thani’s role focuses on pushing forward a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, which remains the most contentious point in the negotiations.
A senior Palestinian official described the discussions as “tough and yet to produce any real breakthrough,” citing disagreements over Israeli withdrawal maps and Hamas’s demand for guarantees that Israel will not resume fighting after the first phase of any agreement. The negotiations are centered around establishing a permanent Gaza ceasefire, exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, improving humanitarian aid access, and determining post-war governance of Gaza.
Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, speaking to Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, said the group was engaged in “serious and responsible negotiations,” but demanded “real guarantees” from Trump and the international community to ensure the conflict does not restart.
The talks come amid growing domestic and international pressure on the Israeli government to end the war. Recent polls suggest that nearly 70 percent of Israelis support a ceasefire if it leads to the release of remaining hostages. The conflict erupted after the October 7 Hamas-led attack, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Since then, Israeli military operations have killed at least 67,173 Palestinians, including 20,179 children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry — figures the UN and other international agencies consider credible.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The same ministry reports 460 deaths from malnutrition, while famine was officially declared in Gaza City in August 2025. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warns that more than half a million Gazans now face “catastrophic” levels of hunger and deprivation. Israel has denied allegations of deliberate starvation, rejecting a UN Commission of Inquiry report that accused it of committing genocide in Gaza, calling the claim “distorted and false.”
Despite the deep divisions, diplomats in Cairo remain cautiously optimistic. A senior Palestinian negotiator summarized the atmosphere: “Everyone wants progress, but the gaps are still wide. These are the hardest talks yet.”
As Gaza ceasefire efforts continue, all eyes are on Cairo, where mediators hope a fragile truce could mark a turning point in one of the Middle East’s longest and most devastating conflicts.