Witkoff to join Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt as Trump says there’s ‘real chance’ to end war

A US delegation led by Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to join the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on Wednesday, after both sides had a “productive” first round of talks.

The discussions on the Gaza ceasefire are being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian resort city on the Red Sea, as they entered a second day on the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced a 20-point Gaza peace plan, which was quickly accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but was met with some opposition by Hamas before they came to terms with it.

‘Real chance to end war’

Trump has voiced optimism that there was a “real chance” to end the war in Gaza, as Israel remembered victims of the October 7 attacks two years ago on Tuesday.

“There’s a real chance that we could do something,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that US negotiators were also involved in the talks.

“I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.”

Trump said the United States would do “everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal” if Hamas and Israel do agree on a ceasefire.

Hamas wants ‘guarantees’

Meanwhile, the Palestinian terror group’s top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, has said that Hamas is seeking guarantees from Trump and the sponsor countries that the “war will end once and for all”.

Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum called the October 7 attack a “historic response” to Israel’s bid to “eradicate the Palestinian cause”.

He also said Hamas was working to “surmount all obstacles” to sealing a deal in Egypt.

Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The plan received positive responses from both Israel and Hamas and prompted the indirect talks that started in Egypt on Monday.

With inputs from agencies