Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are en route to Egypt for discussions on ending the war in Gaza — and senior administration officials say they will not leave until an agreement is reached, according to reports.
President Trump huddled with a team of his top national security officials Tuesday, where Witkoff and Kushner briefed them ahead of their flight to Sharm el-Sheikh.
There was a sense of optimism as the leaders spoke, with insiders believing there was a real “chance of reaching a deal this week” to end the war and see the return of the Israeli hostages still in Hamas’ grasp, Axios’ Barak Ravid reported.
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are not leaving Egypt until the hostages are released. AFP via Getty Images“Bibi did an excellent job. The military pressure was critical to make Hamas more pragmatic. But now Bibi must understand that it’s time for a deal,” a senior US official told Axios.
However, multiple Israeli sources expressed caution when asked for comment on their opinion of how the talks would go.
Hamas leader Fawzi Barhoum in a statement Tuesday said the terror group would not allow Israel to end the war as victors.
“Despite the brutal military force, unlimited support, and full American partnership in the war of extermination in Gaza, they have not and will not succeed in achieving a false image of victory,” the terrorist leader claimed.
About 20 of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas are believed to still be alive, according to a senior Israeli official. In exchange, Hamas is seeking the release of an unknown number of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
The remaining 20 living hostages in Gaza (L-R): Avinatan Or, Matan Zanguaker, Alon Ohel, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Eitan Mor,Omri Miran, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, Eitan Horn, Maxim Herkin, Guy, Gilboa-Dala,Evyatar, David, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Nimrod Cohen,, Rom Braslavski,Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman
The discussions in the Egyptian resort town are expected to last for at least several days, as Hamas has not yet accepted all parts of Trump’s proposed peace plan that Israel agreed to during a White House meeting on Sept. 29.
A central point of issue for Israel has been Hamas’ unwillingness to disarm as part of the agreement. The terrorist group on Tuesday denied reports circulating that Hamas had agreed to gradually hand over its weapons under international monitoring.
The negotiations involving Witkoff and Kushner in Sharm el-Sheikh are expected to last for at least several days. ZUMAPRESS.com“We reaffirm that all official statements and positions of the movement are exclusively published through Hamas’ official website and its verified Telegram channel,” the group said in a statement.
Several other “obstacles to achieving an agreement” remain, according to Barhoum, who said the terror group planned to seek the total withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, restriction-free humanitarian aid, immediate reconstruction efforts and “the return of the displaced to their homes” in their discussions.
The current proposed arrangement would see Israel pull back to an established boundary within Gaza for the first hostage release, then pull back further once more progress is made.
Barhoum also demanded “a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” and a “fair prisoner exchange deal” as part of the settlement, without detailing what Hamas would consider “fair.”
However, Israel’s Israel i24 News reported that an agreement regarding the exchange of hostages and imprisoned Palestinians is close to being reached, citing an Egyptian source.
“A preliminary agreement [is expected to] be reached by Thursday or Friday, and Trump will announce it. If there are obstacles, the final announcement could extend to Sunday at the latest,” the Egyptian source told i24 News.
