Israel and Hamas: Progress was made on Monday in mediation talks, with negotiations set to continue.
The first day of resumed indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt ended on a positive note, amid hopes of a possible deal to implement US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war on Gaza, multiple sources told Al Jazeera and other media outlets.
Negotiators are scheduled to return on Tuesday for further discussions.
Sources told Al Jazeera Arabic that the meeting in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday was “positive” and a roadmap was drawn up for how the current round of talks would continue.
A Hamas delegation told mediators that Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza posed a challenge to negotiations on the release of prisoners, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.
The Hamas delegation includes Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jaberin, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in central Doha that killed five people last month.
According to Egypt’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera News, the talks on the first day covered the proposed exchange of prisoners and hostages, a ceasefire and humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt also said Trump is pushing for an early exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners to build “momentum” for implementing other parts of his plan to end the Gaza war.
“Technical teams are discussing, as we speak, to make sure that the environment is right for the release of those hostages,” Levitt said, adding that the teams are “going over the list of both Israeli hostages and political prisoners who will be released as well.”
Trump, speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, said “we have a really good chance of making a deal,” while also noting that he still has his own “red lines.”
“But I think we’re doing very well. And I think Hamas is agreeing to things that are very important”, Trump added.
Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, DC, said Trump “did not provide any details on how he thinks the discussions are progressing beyond his generally positive assessment.”
