Delegations from Hamas and Israel arrive in Egypt to discuss ceasefire and prisoner exchange

In a pivotal step towards ending the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, a delegation from Hamas, led by leader Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt yesterday evening, Sunday, to participate in indirect talks with Israel, scheduled to be held today, Monday, in Sharm El-Sheikh, under Egyptian and international sponsorship.

In contrast, the Israeli delegation is heading to Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday morning, led by Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, as confirmed by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an official statement.

The spokesperson for the Israeli government described the upcoming talks as being of a "technical" nature, amid expectations that they will discuss the field mechanisms related to the ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the sector, and the details of the prisoner exchange deal between the two parties.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday the hosting of the Israeli and Hamas delegations, aiming to pave the way for a comprehensive deal that includes the exchange of all Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, and to create an atmosphere for a permanent ceasefire.

For its part, sources in the White House revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Weitkopf, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived in Cairo to participate in finalizing the prisoner exchange agreement, as part of a comprehensive plan launched by Trump last week.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, which included:

_ Immediate release of all living Israeli hostages and detainees and their bodies, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

_ Gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the sector, without specifying a precise timeline.

_ Disarmament of factions throughout the Gaza Strip, under international supervision.

_ Removing Hamas from governing the sector, with the formation of a transitional body under international supervision, to temporarily manage Gaza until it is handed over to the Palestinian Authority.

In a notable development, sources reported that leaders in Hamas stated that the movement has tentatively agreed to hand over weapons under international supervision as part of the agreement, provided there are international guarantees to stop Israeli attacks and rebuild the sector.

The anticipated negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh could represent a historic turning point in the course of the conflict, especially with strong engagement from regional and international parties, and high expectations, after months of escalation and the loss of thousands of victims, and the destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

With the weight of Egyptian mediation and increasing U.S. pressure, Arab and international capitals are awaiting the outcomes of these negotiations, which could open the door to a new phase of calm and reconstruction, or return the region to a state of escalation if they fail.