Trump demands speed as Gaza talks begin in Egypt

Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the United States gathered in Egypt on Monday for negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. President Donald Trump called on negotiators to move quickly, and both Hamas and Israel responded positively to his ceasefire proposal that involves releasing captives held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

Hamas' lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya met with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Monday morning before talks shifted to Sharm El-Sheikh. The negotiations focus on establishing a temporary truce date and creating conditions for a first phase that would free 47 hostages from Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation to Egypt on Monday, and Trump dispatched envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to support the talks. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the peace proposal as the right path toward lasting stability in the region.

Explosions continued in Gaza on Monday despite calls from Secretary of State Marco Rubio for Israel to halt strikes. At least 20 Palestinians died in attacks across Gaza on Sunday, and Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir warned forces would resume fighting if negotiations collapse.