Washington steps up pressure to seal deal; Netanyahu hesitant over ‘comprehensive ceasefire’

Preliminary sessions began in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday as part of talks on U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and reach a prisoner-exchange deal, amid a cautious atmosphere and guarded optimism on both sides.

According to diplomatic sources, U.S. envoys Brett Wittkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Egypt within the next two days in an effort to push the talks forward, with Washington seeking “for delegations not to leave Cairo without an agreement,” according to official statements.

In this المرحلة الأولية, each side is reviewing its core positions and identifying the substantive points of disagreement that will be discussed in the coming days. Channel 13 Hebrew said Israeli officials indicated that “only a few days separate us from the moment of decision,” noting that if no tangible progress is made, Tel Aviv will halt the talks and resume military operations immediately.

The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv reports that the gaps between the sides remain large, with Israel insisting on the full release of all Israeli captives as a condition for starting a ceasefire, while holding on to its positions inside Gaza and imposing a mechanism to ensure disarmament continues even after the fighting ends.

In contrast, Hamas is demanding international guarantees for a long-term ceasefire and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, especially those serving long sentences, along with an Israeli commitment not to renew the offensive before a comprehensive agreement on the future of the Strip is reached.

Observers say the core of the disagreement lies in each side’s desire to retain an influential lever: Hamas through the captives, and Israel through battlefield control. Negotiating teams are working to find a formula that would allow both sides to claim a “political achievement” before their publics without either being seen as backing down from its demands.

According to the paper, Israel seeks to achieve two parallel goals: the release of all Israeli captives within a defined timeframe, and maintaining the principle of military control in Gaza until “full security” is ensured under the final agreement. Therefore, it currently favors a temporary ceasefire that would pave the way for the next phase, namely disarming Hamas and removing it from governance and administration in the Strip.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to exert intense pressure on both sides to speed up reaching an agreement, saying that “time is running out for everyone,” expressing his desire to achieve a tangible diplomatic breakthrough that shows his plan can be turned into a realistic and stable agreement despite the ongoing war.

Analysts say U.S. pressure is a double-edged sword for Tel Aviv; it can help accelerate an agreement but at the same time restrict the political and military maneuvering space of the Israeli government.