According to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the talks will focus on establishing the necessary humanitarian and logistical conditions for implementing a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
The discussions will also address the details of the process in line with the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the war and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly two years.
The foreign ministry added that these consultations come within the framework of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to build on the current regional and international momentum following the announcement of President Trump’s initiative to halt the war in Gaza.
In tandem, a White House official told AFP on Saturday that Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump, and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, have departed for Egypt to discuss the release of the Israeli captives in Gaza.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Kushner and Witkoff are visiting Egypt to finalize the details of the release process after Hamas’s positive response to President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas stated it would release Israeli captives and hand over the governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body in response to Trump's plan.
The 20-point Trump Gaza plan stipulates an immediate ceasefire and the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israelis held in Gaza, as well as the remains of those thought to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Palestinians.
In its statement, Hamas said other issues in Trump’s plan relating to Gaza’s future and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be decided through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions, in which Hamas will participate “with full responsibility.”
Shortly after the Hamas announcement, President Trump called on Israel to “immediately halt the bombing of Gaza."
Later, Egypt welcomed Hamas’s response to President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza proposal, urging all sides to commit to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry said Hamas’s decision “reflects an awareness of the necessity of ending this war, thereby laying the groundwork for moving forward toward realizing the Palestinian people’s aspirations to establish their state.”
Cairo also stated that it “appreciates President Trump’s efforts and his vision for achieving peace and stability in the region,” highlighting what it called his “categorical rejection of the annexation of the West Bank or the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.”
A senior Egyptian source told Al Qahera News on Saturday that preparations are underway to launch discussions on establishing the necessary on-the-ground conditions for a prisoner exchange between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel.
The source added that Egypt is actively engaging with all parties to create an environment conducive to implementing the exchange deal, which has been a central focus of recent diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza.
In parallel, the source revealed that Cairo is preparing to host a comprehensive Palestinian dialogue to discuss the future governance and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
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