Israeli, Palestinian Negotiators Expected in Cairo for Gaza Hostage Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli negotiators would depart for Egypt to engage in indirect talks with Hamas aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza and potentially achieving a ceasefire after nearly two years of conflict. These talks, scheduled to begin in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, focus primarily on the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and are part of a US-brokered 20-point peace plan that includes Hamas disarming and Israeli troops withdrawing with a maintained buffer zone. President Donald Trump expressed support for the negotiations, emphasizing their progress and warning Hamas of severe consequences if they do not agree to the terms. Both Israeli and Hamas delegations are set to finalize technical details, with hopes expressed by Netanyahu that hostages could be freed soon, possibly during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Despite the optimism, uncertainty remains about the full scope of discussions, as Israel insists the primary topic be the hostage release, while other issues remain unresolved. The talks are seen as a critical step towards ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, though challenges persist due to differing demands from both parties.