U.S. officials met with Hamas to discuss post-war Gaza governance and a hostage deal’s second phase. Talks ended positively per Egyptian sources, though an Israeli official disagrees. Trump pressured Hamas to release remaining hostages, reflecting ongoing complexities in negotiations.
On Wednesday night, U.S. officials met with Hamas leaders, supported by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, to discuss governance in Gaza and potential advancements regarding the second phase of a hostage deal. Two Egyptian officials indicated the talks concluded positively, raising expectations for future negotiations. Conversely, an Israeli official contested this, asserting a lack of progress in discussions on the hostage deal’s second phase.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem expressed in an interview with the Qatari Al-Arabi channel that the threats from Trump complicate negotiations for a ceasefire. He emphasized that to facilitate the release of hostages, Trump must motivate Netanyahu to initiate talks regarding the next phase of the agreement.
Concerns were raised about Israel potentially leveraging Trump’s statements to tighten the siege on Gaza and aggravate conditions for its people. Trump, after a meeting with released hostages, called for the immediate release of remaining captives, declaring in a Truth Social post that Hamas must return all hostages and the bodies of deceased individuals they held.
Trump’s statement, “‘Shalom Hamas’ means both Hello and Goodbye—you decide,” stressed the urgency of the situation, further criticizing Hamas for holding deceased individuals. Meanwhile, American and Egyptian officials explored options for future governance in Gaza, reflecting on potential leadership candidates. Despite an optimistic tone from Egyptian sources, Israeli officials firmly denied any notable progress in negotiations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed the country’s readiness to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, contingent upon Hamas releasing more of the 59 hostages currently held. The reports regarding the atmosphere of talks remain conflicting, highlighting the complexities surrounding the negotiations.
In summary, recent discussions among U.S., Hamas, and mediating officials focused on Gaza’s future governance and a potential hostage deal. While Egyptian sources indicated positive outcomes from talks, Israeli officials denied progress. Trump’s demands emphasized urgency in hostage releases, reflecting the intricate and tense dynamics of the negotiations. The commitment from both sides to explore future agreements underlines the ongoing challenges in achieving a lasting resolution.
Original Source: www.jewishpress.com
