US Envoy and Trump's Son-in-Law Join Peace Talks in Egypt Amid Gaza Tensions

Fri Nov 07 2025 14:40:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrive in Egypt as negotiations continue without significant progress, addressing key issues in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, are set to participate in peace negotiations in Egypt aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Their arrival comes as talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives have yet to yield any concrete results, highlighting significant disagreements over key issues such as ceasefire conditions and the return of hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the critical nature of the ongoing discussions, stressing the need for a resolution that addresses Israel's security concerns.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will join Gaza peace plan talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Egypt on Wednesday.

Their arrival comes as a second day of indirect talks on Tuesday ended without tangible results, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the BBC.

Trump struck a positive tone on Tuesday, as Israel marked the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, saying there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment on the status of the talks, but told Israelis they were in fateful days of decision.

In a post on X, Netanyahu added that Israel would continue to act to achieve its war aims: The return of all the kidnapped, the elimination of the Hamas regime and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.

Witkoff and Kushner were expected to depart the US on Tuesday evening and arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, a source familiar with the talks told the BBC.

Qatar's prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, seen as a key mediator, will also join the talks, an official told the Reuters news agency. Al Thani's attendance was aimed at pushing forward the Gaza ceasefire plan and hostage release agreement, the official said.

A senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the BBC that an evening round of indirect talks on Tuesday began at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT). The official said the morning session ended without tangible results, amid disagreements over the proposed Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over guarantees Hamas wants to ensure Israel does not resume fighting after the first phase of the deal.

The talks were tough and have yet to produce any real breakthrough, but noted that mediators were working hard to narrow the gaps between the two sides.

Trump addressed concerns on Tuesday, telling reporters that we're going to do everything possible to make sure everybody adheres to the deal. Earlier, a Palestinian official said the negotiations were focused on five key issues: a permanent ceasefire; the exchange of the hostages still held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza; arrangements for humanitarian aid deliveries; and post-war governance of the territory.

Speaking on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the taking of 251 hostages, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for an agreement on Trump's peace plan, describing it as a historic opportunity to resolve the tragic conflict.

Polls indicate a desire among approximately 70% of Israelis for a resolution to the conflict coinciding with the release of hostages, while humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain critical, with significant casualties and widespread starvation reported.

As negotiations continue, the role of international mediators, including Qatar and Turkey, becomes increasingly vital in navigating this complex landscape.