Countries urge for Gaza deal as peace talks enter 2nd day in Egypt

CAIRO/GAZA -- Indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas delegations entered the second day in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday -- the two-year anniversary of the militant group's attack on Israel that triggered the current conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas affirmed on Tuesday its pursuit of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

In a press conference marking the second anniversary of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said that the movement's delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt seeks to overcome all obstacles to achieving an agreement that meets the aspirations of the people of the Gaza Strip.

Also on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed his country's hope that the ongoing negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh will achieve significant progress in ending the war in the Gaza Strip.

In a joint press conference with his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon in Cairo, both ministers called for intensified international efforts to end the war in Gaza, voicing support for the recent ceasefire proposal of US President Donald Trump and the two-state solution as a basis for lasting peace.

Abdelatty said that the current Egypt-sponsored Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aim to reach an agreement on the first stage of the proposed deal, which includes "the release of (Israeli) hostages and a number of Palestinian prisoners, and the redeployment of Israeli forces to prepare conditions on the ground for implementing the release step."

He added that the talks also address "ensuring full and unconditional access of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through UN channels, to guarantee non-displacement of the Palestinians."

Qatar's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that ongoing negotiations in Egypt involved hours of detailed discussions to address obstacles, noting that issues such as the handover of captives, release of Palestinian prisoners, and delivery of aid still require agreement.

At a regular press briefing in Doha, the ministry's Spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stressed that "the meetings are continuing, and all parties are pushing towards reaching an agreement."

The spokesperson underlined that while it is "too early to speak about the future of Hamas," the future of Gaza and its people "must remain in the hands of the Palestinians."

"As Qatar is engaged in more than mediation efforts, we are aware that any proposal is not applicable to all parties. We, as mediators, appreciate the US commitment to this proposal, namely, ending the war. That's why we're all pushing for ending this genocidal war," al-Ansari said.

The negotiations in Egypt come as the conflict in Gaza has dragged on for two years, leaving tens of thousands dead and triggering a dire humanitarian crisis. Mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, have stepped up efforts to broker a deal that could end the hostilities and pave the way for reconstruction.

Since Oct 7, 2023, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 67,173 Palestinians and injured 169,780 others, while causing massive destruction to infrastructure and worsening humanitarian conditions, Gaza's health authorities said in an update on Tuesday.

They added that 460 deaths were recorded due to famine and malnutrition, including 154 children, while 51,196 children under the age of five continue to suffer from acute malnutrition.