• Indirect negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations are underway in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with U.S., Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators present.
  • The talks focus on implementing Trump's '20-point plan,' which includes an immediate ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchanges, and Gaza's demilitarization.
  • Major sticking points remain, particularly around Hamas's disarmament and the transfer of Gaza's administration to a technocratic Palestinian authority under international oversight.

Fragile Negotiations Begin

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that phase two talks on Gaza have commenced in Egypt, marking the most significant diplomatic push to end over two years of conflict that has left more than 66,000 Palestinians dead according to Gaza health sources. The indirect negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations began on October 6, 2025, in Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediators from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey working to bridge the gaps.

"We're seeing real movement," said one Western diplomat close to the talks who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. "The framework is there, but the devil is in the details, particularly around security arrangements."

The 20-Point Framework

At the heart of the discussions is Trump's ambitious '20-point plan,' which outlines terms for an immediate and monitored ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal to agreed initial lines, and the demilitarization of Gaza. The plan also calls for the handover of governance to a technocratic Palestinian authority under international oversight, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner playing key roles in the process.

Immediate priorities include the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and a reciprocal prisoner exchange—elements that negotiators hope could lead to a formal ceasefire within days if successfully implemented. The Israeli delegation has emphasized that security concerns remain paramount, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintaining his cautious stance on Palestinian statehood.

Unresolved Challenges

Despite the forward momentum, significant hurdles remain. The disarmament of Hamas represents perhaps the most contentious issue, with the group's political wing showing flexibility while its military leadership remains divided. The pace of Israeli withdrawal and the timeframe for transferring Gaza's administration from Hamas to a new international body also present major challenges.

Efforts to restructure Gaza's governance have hit procedural snags, particularly around the mechanism for establishing the technocratic authority that would assume control. Without a deal on these core security and governance issues, the fragile ceasefire could collapse, returning the region to open conflict.

Egyptian mediators have been shuttling between the delegations throughout the day, attempting to find common ground on the sequencing of implementation. Regional Arab states have thrown their weight behind the process, seeing it as critical for regional stabilization and potentially reigniting wider Middle East peace talks.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of mediators present. Turkish representatives are participating alongside U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari officials.