U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have reportedly arrived in Cairo ahead of the talks set to begin on Monday, Oct. 6. Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed that its delegation will be led by Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, whom Israel had tried to kill in Doha on Sept. 9, and that al-Hayya had arrived in Egypt. The Times of Israel cited Channel 12 news that Israel’s negotiating team will be led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, government hostage pointman Gal Hirsch, IDF hostage pointman Nitzan Alon, the Shin Bet’s deputy director, and Mossad and defense officials. The first stage will be to agree on the mechanism for the hostage releases, according to the report. The 72 hours to release all the living hostages will begin once that is agreed upon.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Oct. 4 that “Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas.” The Truth Social post included a map showing the lines in Gaza that Israel supposedly agreed to pull back to. “When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE,” Trump wrote.
