U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will take all necessary measures to prevent Israel from resuming military actions in Gaza if Hamas agrees to a peace deal. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, coinciding with the second anniversary of Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken in Israel. Since then, health officials in Gaza report that over 67,000 Palestinians have died due to Israeli airstrikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, while Hamas has shown preliminary support but seeks further discussions on critical issues. Netanyahu remarked, "We are in fateful days of decision," emphasizing the need to achieve the war's objectives, including the return of all hostages and the dismantling of Hamas's governance.

Hamas is concerned that Israel may resume its heavy bombardment of Gaza once the remaining hostages are returned. Currently, 48 captives are believed to be in Gaza, with 20 thought to be alive. In a press briefing from Washington, Trump addressed concerns from Arab states regarding lasting peace, stating, "We are going to do everything possible to make sure everybody adheres to the deal."

Hamas has insisted that it will only release all remaining hostages if Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza immediately after a deal is reached. The Trump peace plan proposes the release of all captives within the first 72 hours of an agreement but allows for a gradual and partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, which Netanyahu argues is necessary for Israel's security.

Hamas's lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, expressed the group's commitment to serious negotiations, stating, "We came with the direct goal of ending the war, exchanging prisoners, and releasing Israeli detainees."

Senior U.S. officials, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have been sent to Egypt to participate in the discussions. Reports indicate that Qatar's prime minister will also join the negotiations. Trump expressed optimism about the potential for peace, saying, "We are very close to making a deal on the Middle East that will bring peace."

In both Israel and Gaza, there is cautious hope that the current talks may yield positive results, although previous negotiations have failed. Many in the Palestinian community recognize that achieving peace is only the first step toward healing. Rula Daood, co-director of the organization Standing Together, which includes both Jewish Israelis and Palestinians, emphasized the need for a political agenda that diverges from current right-wing policies. She stated, "The first step is to end the war on Gaza, to withdraw from Gaza, start rebuilding and to let the people in Gaza and the West Bank demand the kind of leadership that they want."

Daood expressed concern about the unpredictability of Trump's involvement, saying, "I think Trump, his politics are very dangerous because he can wake up one day and decide something and the next day decide something else." Despite her caution, she remains hopeful that this time the situation may improve, noting that Trump has maintained a consistent stance for several days. However, she remains uncertain about the outcome of the negotiations.