US envoys head to Egypt as Hamas agrees to Gaza plan
- Last updated: October 5, 2025 | 09:55
Two envoys of US President Donald Trump headed to Egypt on Saturday to discuss the release of hostages in Gaza, after Hamas agreed to his ceasefire proposal.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to finalise details on the release of hostages and discuss a deal pushed by Trump to end the nearly two-year war between Israel and Hamas, a White House official said.
Egyptian state-linked media reported that Israel and Hamas would also hold indirect talks in Cairo on Sunday and Monday over a detainees and hostages exchange.
The talks come after Trump urged Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza, following Hamas’s announcement that it was ready to release all the hostages and begin negotiations on the ceasefire proposal.
“The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages -- living and remains - according to the exchange formula included in President Trump’s proposal,” Hamas said in a Friday statement.
Trump later posted on Truth Social: “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
On Saturday, he had a warning for Hamas, telling the group he would “not tolerate delay” on the peace deal.
A Hamas official said Egypt, a mediator in the truce talks, would host a conference for Palestinian factions to decide on Gaza’s post-war future.
Al Qahera News, which is closely linked to Egypt’s intelligence service, reported that delegations from Israel and Hamas “have begun moving to launch talks in Cairo tomorrow and the day after, to discuss arranging the ground conditions for the exchange of all detainees and prisoners, in accordance with Trump’s proposal.”
Qatar “welcomes the announcement by Hamas of its agreement to President Trump’s plan”, said foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari, also expressing support for Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire.
Egypt said it hoped “this positive development will lead all parties to rise to the level of responsibility by committing to implementing President Trump’s plan on the ground and end the war.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “welcomes” Hamas’s response and “urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end”, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan was a “vital opportunity” to stop bloodshed in the Palestinian territory “once and for all”, UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Saturday.
The World Health Organisation also welcomed the plan, particularly the prospect of reconstructing hospitals.
“In two years, we have never been closer to securing peace than now. We cannot miss this opportunity. Too many lives been lost and shattered,” the UN health agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
“The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, joining a chorus of hopeful European reactions to Hamas’s response.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the plan represented “the best chance for peace” in the conflict and that Germany “fully supports” Trump’s “call upon both sides”.
Britain’s Keir Starmer called Hamas’s acceptance “a significant step forwards” and urged all sides “to implement the agreement without delay”.
Israel meanwhile conducted deadly strikes across Gaza on Saturday. Gaza civil defence said that at least 57 killed in Israeli strikes since dawn on Saturday.
Huge numbers turned out at pro-Palestinian rallies in Europe on Saturday, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of activists on board a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the territory.
Organisers of the protest in Rome said hundreds of thousands of people had turned out for a fourth day running, after Israel intercepted the 45-strong flotilla seeking to reach Gaza earlier this week. Some 70,000 people, according to police, took to the streets in Barcelona, in one of several pro-Palestinian protests to take place across Spain.
Agencies