Qatar, Turkey to join third day of Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt

DOHA,  Qatar 

Qatar's prime minister and Turkish delegates will join Hamas and Israeli negotiators in Egypt on Wednesday for a third day of talks aimed at ending the Gaza war.

Qatar Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani,

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are being held at the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, based on a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump last month.

"There's a real chance that we could do something," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, adding that US negotiators were also involved in the talks.

"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."

Trump said the United States would do "everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal" if Hamas and Israel do agree on a ceasefire.

The talks come as Palestinians in Gaza mark two years of Israel's war and genocide in the enclave, while Israelis marked two years since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli families pressing for the captives' return.

A UN probe last month accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Over 67,000 have been killed in the Palestinian enclave, with the death toll expected to be higher.

Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said the group wants "guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all".

Trump's plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the captives, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The plan received positive responses from both Israel and Hamas and prompted indirect talks in Egypt since Monday.

A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday's session included Hamas discussing "the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange".

On Wednesday, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will join the talks, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

"The primary guarantee of success at this stage is US President Trump himself... even if it comes to a point to require him imposing a vision," he said.

Qatar said its prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, would attend, while Turkish state media reported the country's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin would lead a delegation to Egypt.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,160 people, in actions described as a genocide by the UN, leading rights groups and several world leaders.