Negotiators representing Israel and Hamas are set to convene in Cairo on Monday in a new round of talks aimed at securing the release of hostages, according to officials from both sides. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to participate in the discussions, which carry a 72-hour deadline for reaching an agreement.
Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed Sunday that the talks would focus on the technical details of the deal’s first phase.
“These are technical talks. Israel’s government has agreed to the first phase of this deal, which is the release of all 48 hostages at once,” Bedrosian said. “As President Trump confirmed, it has been agreed to. Hamas, the terror organization, will need to release our hostages. Israel’s team of negotiators will be meeting in Egypt to iron out these very specific details on the first phase right now.”
Push for swift resolution
Bedrosian emphasized that Israel expects the negotiations to be concluded quickly, reiterating the 72-hour timeline for the release of the hostages once terms are finalized.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced optimism on Sunday that an agreement could be reached early in the week, urging both sides to avoid prolonged talks.
“All those talks are occurring, even as I speak to you now, we’re hoping it will be finalized very quickly, early this week,” Rubio told ABC News. “And I’m hoping, you know again, who knows the timeline? But this cannot take weeks or even multiple days. We want to see this happen very fast.”
Violence escalates in Gaza
While negotiators prepare to meet, violence has continued in Gaza. Gaza medical officials reported that at least 18 people were killed and several more injured in a series of explosions on Sunday morning. Israeli military authorities confirmed that operations are ongoing, describing them as defensive in nature.
“While certain bombings have actually stopped inside the Gaza Strip, there’s no ceasefire in place at this point in time, although there has been this temporary halt in certain bombings,” Bedrosian said. “The Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] has given orders, actually, for defense to fire back for defensive purposes, of course, if there is a threat to their life on the battlefield in Gaza.”
However, officials in Gaza disputed Israel’s description. Mohammed Al Mughayyir, a civil defense officer in the territory, said the strikes have not slowed.
“The Israeli bombardment on Gaza continues with the same intensity and pattern –– air strikes, artillery shelling and quadcopter drone fire are ongoing,” Al Mughayyir said.
A symbolic moment
The upcoming talks coincide with a grim milestone. Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the Hamas attack that left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead. Since then, Israel’s military response has devastated the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing offensive.
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