In a fresh diplomatic effort to end the Gaza conflict, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have joined indirect peace talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators taking place in Cairo, Egypt.
Their participation marks a renewed American push to mediate progress in the long-stalled negotiations, which entered a second day on Tuesday without any concrete breakthrough, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the discussions told the BBC.
Trump Hints at Optimism Amid Middle East Tensions
As Israel commemorated the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, Trump struck a notably optimistic tone, telling reporters there was “a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, remained cautious. While he made no public comment on the status of the Cairo talks, he told Israelis that the nation was in “fateful days of decision.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s core objectives:
“The return of all the kidnapped, the elimination of the Hamas regime, and the guarantee that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
Washington’s Renewed Engagement
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner were scheduled to depart the U.S. late Tuesday and arrive in Egypt on Wednesday to participate in the talks.
Their involvement underscores Washington’s intention to reassert its influence in Middle East diplomacy, particularly as Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations continue efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian framework for Gaza.
The latest round of discussions comes amid growing international pressure to end the months-long conflict, which has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Observers say the entry of Kushner — a key architect of the Abraham Accords — could signal a more pragmatic, deal-driven approach to achieving regional stability.
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