Negotiations at a Crossroads: Can Israel and Hamas End Two Years of Conflict?

Sat Nov 15 2025 01:42:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war approaches, uncertainty looms over negotiations aimed at ending the violence and facilitating the return of hostages. Can a peace deal finally emerge?

Two years into the Israel-Hamas conflict, discussions are ongoing that could potentially end hostilities. Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the political complexities surrounding both negotiating parties, the hope for a ceasefire rests on the current talks influenced by international mediators. The situation remains tense, with significant conditions yet to be addressed.

After two years of war, there is a chance of a deal that will end the killing and destruction in Gaza and return the Israeli hostages, living and dead, to their families.

It is an opportunity, but it is not certain that it will be seized by Hamas and Israel.

The 7 October attacks killed around 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and 251 were taken hostage. The Israelis estimate that 20 hostages are still alive and they want the return of the bodies of 28 others.

Israel's devastating military response has destroyed most of Gaza and killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians and including more than 18,000 children.

The figures come from the health ministry that is part of the remains of the Hamas administration. Its statistics have usually been regarded as reliable. A study in The Lancet suggested they were an underestimate.

Israelis and Palestinians both want the war to end, but powerful critics exist on both sides who may oppose the ceasefire. The basis for the talks revolves around a 20-point Gaza peace plan proposed by Donald Trump, but with significant challenges ahead, the outcome remains uncertain.

Hamas's survival tactics juxtaposed against Netanyahu's political maneuvers amplify the pressures of the ongoing conflict. The stakes are high, with the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the repercussions of any failed negotiations looming large.