All the main Palestinian resistance groups have publicly taken the same line on the latest U.S. ceasefire idea – and Hamas says that unity has only pushed Israel further into international isolation. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha framed the joint position as one rooted in what’s best for ordinary Palestinians, saying the resistance welcomes Arab and global support for Palestinian rights and for efforts to halt the fighting.
Taha made a clear demand: Israel must stop its attacks in a real, lasting way. He argued that as long as strikes and other “crimes” continue, Israel’s promises about any peace plan ring hollow. He also stressed that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and that any future administration of the territory should come from a Palestinian national consensus.
Meanwhile, indirect talks tied to the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan kicked off in Egypt. Egyptian and Qatari mediators have been shuttling between the two sides in Sharm el-Sheikh, starting with meetings with the Hamas delegation and then planning to brief the Israeli side. An Egyptian official said the mediators will later share what they’ve learned before U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff joins the sessions.
At the heart of the talks is a 20-point proposal put forward by Donald Trump. Israel has signaled its willingness to accept the package, and Hamas has given partial backing with major caveats. One key area of agreement in principle is a prisoner-for-prisoner swap: Hamas says it will hand over Israeli captives if Israel releases Palestinian detainees and if certain “field conditions” are met on the ground.
The backdrop to these negotiations is a years-long and devastating cycle of violence. The current, intense round of fighting began after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack, which was followed by a large Israeli military offensive. Gaza’s health authorities say the toll is enormous: about 67,160 Palestinians killed and roughly 169,679 wounded. Aid agencies and local hospitals also warn of growing hunger and shortages as restrictions choke off supplies into the enclave.
As mediators work to turn agreements on paper into steps on the ground, both sides are sending firm messages about what they will and won’t accept. The coming days in Egypt will test whether diplomatic pressure and careful bargaining can produce a deal that brings captives home and eases the humanitarian crisis – or whether deep mistrust will keep the fighting and suffering going.