Israel and Hamas in Indirect Ceasefire Talks in Egypt as Netanyahu Pushes for Full Hostage Release
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed this week in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, as efforts intensify to reach a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The talks come amid growing international pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough and a lasting truce.
The Israeli delegation is led by Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, and includes top defense and intelligence officials. While Israeli and Hamas representatives are not meeting face toface, the discussions are being mediated by Egyptian officials. Simultaneous consultations are being held in Cairo, where Hamas, Qatari, and American officials are present.
The negotiations follow Hamas’s reported acceptance of the majority of a ceasefire framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which allegedly includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed those claims, labeling them as “baseless”, and reiterated that no Israeli agreement has been made on a staged pullout.
Speaking to the Israeli public on Saturday, Netanyahu confirmed that the release of all hostages held by Hamas remains the top priority for Israel. He stressed that no ceasefire deal will be finalized without guarantees on the safe return of Israeli civilians and soldiers still believed to be held in Gaza.
“We will not be pressured into any agreement that does not bring our people home,” Netanyahu said during a televised address. “Israel stands firm no staged withdrawal, no false promises, only a full resolution.”
According to Israeli officials, a 72-hour countdown will begin only once Hamas formally approves the deal in full. That timeline is meant to provide an opportunity for both sides to finalize security arrangements and for international mediators to ensure compliance.
While diplomatic sources describe the current atmosphere as “cautiously optimistic,” major hurdles remain particularly around the sequence of prisoner exchanges, guarantees of non-renewed hostilities, and humanitarian access to Gaza.
This round of indirect diplomacy marks one of the most serious pushes toward a truce since hostilities escalated earlier this year. The outcome may hinge on the ability of mediators in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh to bridge the wide trust gap between the two sides.
