A delegation led by Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrives in Cairo later today, reports Saudi Asharq al-Awsat. al-Hayya survived the Israeli attack on the terror-stamped Hamas Qatar-based political branch in Doha in September.
The US delegation is led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser. Representing Israel is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top adviser Ron Dermer, along with a number of intelligence, security and military officials.
Released gradually
The discussions are initially about creating conditions on the ground to be able to release the hostages in Gaza, reports Israeli media. According to Saudi Asharq al-Awsat's source, the hostages will then be released gradually over several days.
Significant differences of opinion remain between the parties. Among other things, Hamas has not yet commented on the demand for disarmament in Trump's peace plan.
In a televised speech on Saturday, Netanyahu claimed that Hamas will be disarmed - "either diplomatically through Trump's plan, or militarily by us".
Disputed control line
Israel also expects resistance around the plan's stipulated line for Israel's withdrawal, reports the Israeli public service company Kan.
According to a map published by Trump on Saturday, the line is drawn 6.5 kilometers into Gaza - significantly deeper than the Israeli control line 1.6 kilometers into Gaza that mediators presented to Hamas in July, which the movement then rejected.
The talks in the coming days are said to take place through Egyptian and Qatari mediators. In parallel, Egypt is hosting an "intra-Palestinian dialogue" with Palestinian factions to discuss post-war Gaza, reports CNN.
