Cairo: As international diplomatic efforts intensify to end the prolonged conflict in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has dispatched his son-in-law and former Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff, to Egypt. Their mission is to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas and to advance the implementation of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal, even as the enclave continues to endure deadly strikes.
Kushner, whose private equity firm Affinity Partners has received substantial investments from Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, is returning to the diplomatic stage at a critical juncture. Critics have raised concerns over his impartiality, given his financial ties to countries involved in regional politics. Nevertheless, the US administration is moving forward, highlighting the partial acceptance of the ceasefire plan by Hamas, particularly its willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages.
While Hamas has agreed to engage in hostage negotiations, it has not fully endorsed the broader 20-point plan, avoiding commitments on disarmament and exclusion from Gaza governance. Despite this, Trump emphasized the progress, calling the partial acceptance a step toward “lasting PEACE.” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid reaffirmed that he would prevent Prime Minister Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners from obstructing the ceasefire process, citing broad public and parliamentary support for the Trump plan.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. More than 67,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have died since October 7, 2023, and nearly 170,000 have sustained injuries. Recent hospital reports indicate 20 additional deaths in the past 12 hours despite temporary pauses in Israeli airstrikes. Nearly 436,000 homes, or 92% of residential buildings, have been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of families displaced.
Palestinian NGOs warn of thousands of bodies still trapped under rubble. The Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared estimates that without immediate international intervention, up to 9,000 corpses may never be recovered. Gaza Civil Defense adds that approximately 15,000 bodies could remain entombed. Urgent calls have been made for forensic teams, excavators, and mobile DNA labs to aid in recovery and identification, ensuring families can give their loved ones proper burials.
The crisis has attracted worldwide attention. The South African government welcomed Hamas’ willingness to release hostages and urged Israel to respond reciprocally. Meanwhile, attempts to deliver humanitarian aid by sea have been met with challenges, as Israel deported 137 flotilla participants attempting to enter Gaza, sending them to Turkey. The deportees included citizens from multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Human rights organizations, including Adalah, reported mistreatment of detainees during hearings, raising concerns about access to aid.
A Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo for talks on the hostages and broader governance issues. Egypt will host an intra-Palestinian dialogue to discuss Palestinian unity and Gaza’s post-war administration. Trump’s plan proposes two layers of interim governance: an international oversight body and a technocratic Palestinian committee, but Hamas has expressed intent to remain engaged in the governance of Gaza, defying some elements of the US proposal.
Israel is preparing a negotiating team and logistical plans for partial troop withdrawals, while maintaining caution in northern Gaza, still labeled a “dangerous combat zone.” Residents report a temporary lull in airstrikes and bombardments, though sporadic gunfire from drones and Israeli military positions continues.
Reactions on the ground in Gaza are mixed. Many residents express cautious optimism, hoping that the partial acceptance of Trump’s ceasefire plan could bring an end to the violence. Others remain skeptical, stating that agreements on paper and media announcements will only gain credibility once implemented.
As the Hamas delegation heads to Cairo and negotiations intensify, Gaza finds itself at a precarious moment caught between diplomatic efforts that promise respite and the continuing humanitarian crisis. With high-level diplomacy, international aid appeals, and cautious ceasefire steps converging, the coming days will be pivotal in determining whether the region can move toward stability and recovery, or whether violence will continue to define daily life in the besieged enclave.