Egypt Daily News – After U.S. President’s envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, confirmed that negotiations with Hamas were positive, the Palestinian movement revealed that the talks focused on stopping the war and the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on Monday, Hamas said that the negotiations conducted with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, as well as Trump’s envoy, focused on ending the war, withdrawal, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Commitment to the Agreement
The movement added that it had shown flexibility in dealing with the efforts of the mediators and Trump’s envoy. It also clarified that it is awaiting the outcomes of the upcoming negotiations and the commitment of Israel to the ceasefire agreement, moving towards its second phase.
Boehler had emphasized in statements last night that the U.S. is committed to ending the Gaza war and securing the release of all prisoners.
Disarmament
He also indicated that he discussed with the Hamas delegation a prolonged truce that includes the group’s disarmament, as well as plans for the post-war phase in Gaza and its reconstruction. He stated, “We are working to ensure that Hamas does not rearm.”
He further explained that negotiations regarding Gaza will intensify once U.S. President’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrives in Doha. However, he noted at the same time that “the negotiations will be difficult.”
Steve Witkoff is expected to head to Doha on Tuesday evening in an attempt to mediate a new agreement or extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on January 19.
Meanwhile, Israel remains determined to eliminate Hamas and expel it from the Gaza Strip, while the movement rejects any attempt to disarm it.
During the first phase of the Gaza agreement, Hamas released 33 Israeli prisoners in exchange for more than 1,400 Palestinians. Currently, the group is still holding 59 prisoners in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli army has announced that 35 of them have been killed, while Israeli intelligence estimates that 22 are still alive, with the status of two remaining unknown.
