Trump urges mediators to ‘move fast’ as Gaza peace talks set to resume in Egypt

United States President Donald Trump has urged all parties involved in peace efforts in Gaza to “move fast”, as mediators are set to meet in Egypt on Monday for indirect talks between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel.

The negotiations follow reports that Hamas has agreed to some parts of a 20-point US peace plan, including freeing hostages and handing over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body.

However, the group’s response did not address the issue of disarmament. It also appeared to reject the proposed international “Board of Peace” that would govern Gaza under the plan.

In a social media post, Trump said that the talks had been “very successful” and added that the “first phase should be completed this week”.

He added: “Time is of the essence or, massive bloodshed will follow – something that nobody wants to see!”

Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump had said that he believed hostages in Gaza would start to be released “very soon”, the BBC reported.

Asked about flexibility in the US peace plan, he said, “We don’t need flexibility because everybody has pretty much agreed to it, but there will always be some changes.”

“It’s a great deal for Israel, it’s a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world, and world, so we’re very happy about it,” BBC quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continued in Gaza despite Trump’s call on Friday for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing” after Hamas responded to the proposal, the BBC reported.

Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday that “while certain bombings have actually stopped inside of the Gaza Strip, there’s no ceasefire in place at this point in time,.

She added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised troops “to fire back for defensive purposes… if there is a threat to their life in the battlefield in Gaza”, the BBC reported.

Reports from Gaza said Israeli air and tank strikes continued overnight and into Sunday, destroying several residential buildings in Gaza City. At least 24 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, Al Jazeera reported.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on besieged Gaza since then, leaving more than 67,000 persons dead.

In August, the UN formally declared a famine in northern Gaza. In September, a commission of inquiry set up by the United Nations said that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel called the report “distorted and false”, and demanded that the commission be immediately abolished.

Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks since July. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to disagreements between the two sides.

Trump’s proposal

The peace plan announced by Trump on September 29 entails Israeli forces partially withdrawing from Gaza to prepare for hostages to be released.

Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, Hamas would have to return all hostages, whether alive or dead. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners undergoing life terms, as well as 1,700 Gaza residents who were detained after the conflict began.

Members of Hamas who “commit to peaceful coexistence” and agree to lay down arms will be given amnesty. Hamas members who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to receiving countries, as per the proposal.

The White House said that Israel will not annex Gaza and no one will be forced to leave the region.

The proposal also envisions a “Board of Peace” comprising international overseers led by Trump himself. The board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the proposal has not yet specified his role.

Gaza will be governed by a temporary “technocratic, apolitical” committee comprising Palestinians and global experts and the “Board of Peace” will oversee the committee’s functioning.

The proposal will require Hamas to have no direct or indirect role in governing Gaza.