Gaza ceasefire talks begin in Egypt, as Israel strikes enclave

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🗞️ Driving the news: Israel and Hamas are participating in indirect ceasefire negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, under a U.S.-backed plan to end the two-year Gaza war
• Talks focus on a phased ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchanges, and the delivery of humanitarian aid, while Israeli airstrikes continue to hit Gaza
• Despite progress, key differences over disarmament and governance remain unresolved

🔭 The context: This marks the most serious diplomatic effort in months, following a U.S. proposal advanced by President Trump and Arab leaders at the UN
• The proposed deal outlines a conditional Israeli withdrawal, disarmament of Hamas, and transitional governance of Gaza by a technocratic committee supervised by international actors
• Hamas and Arab states oppose Israeli attempts to exclude the Palestinian Authority, while Israel continues military pressure despite Hamas’s tentative acceptance of the plan

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Beyond the humanitarian toll — with over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and severe damage to Gaza’s infrastructure — the conflict has disrupted regional energy, food, and aid flows
• A sustainable ceasefire is critical not only to prevent further civilian casualties but to enable long-term recovery, environmental rehabilitation, and stabilization in a geopolitically sensitive area increasingly exposed to climate and resource stresses

⏭️ What's next: Negotiators aim to finalise Phase 1, including a 72-hour timeline for hostage release and a temporary Israeli redeployment. U.S. Treasury and military envoys, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are involved in shaping logistics
• However, Israeli strikes continue amid disagreement over sequencing of ceasefire and hostage handover
• Regional actors such as Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey remain central to enforcement and implementation, with next steps contingent on narrowing gaps over disarmament and political transition

💬 One quote: "Nothing has changed since Hamas agreed to Trump’s deal. If anything, the Israeli strikes have gotten worse." — Maysaa Nasr, Gaza City resident

📈 One stat: More than 150 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Friday, with 70% of fatalities occurring in Gaza City, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry

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