WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday there was a “real chance” of reaching a Gaza peace deal, as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continued in Egypt to end the ongoing bombardment campaign in the besieged Palestinian territory.
“We are very close to making a deal on the Middle East that will bring peace to the Middle East,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump said that US negotiators were involved in the talks now taking place in Egypt. The White House said on Monday that Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would play a role.
“There’s a real chance that we could do something,” Trump said. “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It’s something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately.”
“Our team is over there now, another team just left, and other countries, literally every country in the world, has supported the plan.”
Trump added that the United States would do “everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal” if Hamas and Israel do agree on a ceasefire to end the war.
Cairo talks focus on Israeli withdrawal
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the ongoing ceasefire talks were focused on establishing a mechanism to ensure Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and to allow the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid.
Addressing a joint press conference in Cairo with his Slovenian counterpart, Abdelatty said “significant progress has been made” and expressed optimism that the current round of negotiations could end the war and famine in Gaza.
According to Egyptian officials, the talks aim to reinforce a political process leading to a two-state solution and full Palestinian unity between Gaza and the West Bank.
Abdelatty welcomed Trump’s initiative and called for using the current momentum to launch talks on an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Trump’s 20-point peace plan, unveiled on 29 September, calls for a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Qatar: ‘All parties pushing towards an agreement’
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that “all parties are pushing towards reaching an agreement” under Trump’s plan.
Speaking to reporters in Doha, al-Ansari said negotiators had held “four hours of intense and meticulous talks” to resolve outstanding issues related to the ceasefire, the release of captives, and humanitarian access.
“Many details require agreements on implementation — including the handover of captives, release of Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid,” he said. “The meetings continue.”
Al-Ansari also said that “Israel should have already ceased fire” if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of adhering to Trump’s proposal were genuine.
He stressed that the future of Gaza must remain “in Palestinian hands,” with reconstruction requiring international support but self-determination remaining “a Palestinian right.”
Hamas seeks full Israeli withdrawal
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum told Al Jazeera that the group’s delegation in Cairo was working to “overcome all obstacles” to achieve a deal that meets “the aspirations of our people in Gaza.”
He outlined Hamas’s key demands, including a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal, unrestricted humanitarian access, and a reconstruction process led by a Palestinian technocratic body. Barhoum accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of obstructing previous negotiations, saying: “Despite brutal military force and full American partnership in this war of extermination, they have not and will not achieve a false image of victory.”
Saudi Arabia backs efforts to advance peace
The Saudi cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, also welcomed efforts to implement Trump’s Gaza peace plan, calling it “a step toward ending the conflict and achieving a just and lasting peace”, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) marked two years of war with a renewed call for an immediate ceasefire, saying on X (formerly Twitter): “Two years of war in Gaza. Two years too long. It’s time for a ceasefire now.”
Western leaders back Trump plan
Marking two years since the start of the conflict, Western leaders renewed calls for a ceasefire and endorsed Trump’s proposal as a viable step toward peace.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London would continue “working with international partners until all hostages are home and there is lasting peace.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron said “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire must take place without delay.”
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also described Trump’s proposal as a “real opportunity” to end the conflict.
Israel continues bombardment
Despite the peace talks, Israeli airstrikes continued on parts of Gaza City. Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 19 people were killed in the past 24 hours — a lower toll compared with recent weeks of intense bombardment.
According to the ministry, Israel’s military campaign since October 2023 has killed at least 67,173 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children and 28,000 women, and wounded nearly 170,000. The UN says the true toll is likely higher.
Most of Gaza’s health infrastructure has collapsed: 25 of 38 hospitals are out of service, while over 100 primary healthcare centres have been destroyed. The Health Ministry says 1,701 medical personnel have been killed and 362 detained.
The UN formally declared famine in parts of Gaza in August, reporting that at least 460 Palestinians, including 154 children, have died of hunger. More than 51,000 children under five suffer from severe malnutrition.
