Peace talks to end Gaza war to begin Monday

Indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza are set to begin on Monday.

The talks in Egypt are to be mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, after President Trump announced a 20-point peace plan last week, The New York Times reported. Two points of the proposal that are likely to be focused on during the talks are exchanging Israeli-held Palestinians for hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Tel Aviv, and an Israeli pullback from parts of the Gaza Strip.

Israel believes that Hamas has about 20 hostages still alive in Gaza, and also seeks the remains of about 25 others. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Hamas had “agreed to the president’s hostage release framework.”

According to the proposal, hostages will be exchanged for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 other Palestinians jailed by Israel during the war. For every hostage whose remains are released by Hamas, Israel will also release the remains of 15 Palestinians.

Israel and Hamas have yet to agree on which Palestinian prisoners will be released.

Hamas said Friday that it was willing to release the hostages, but Hamas has yet to address major points in Trump's peace plan, including demands that it has previously rejected. One of the points in the proposal calls on the terrorist group to disarm and have no role in governing Gaza.

On Saturday, Trump said, “When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal.”