US President Donald Trump said Hamas agreed to important points during indirect negotiations with Israel in Egypt over a US-brokered Gaza peace plan.

Trump told CNN, “I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important.” He added that the US has set conditions, including disarming Hamas, but stressed, “Well, if certain things aren’t met? We’re not going to do it, but I think we’re doing very well.”

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Begin

Israel and Hamas started indirect talks in Egypt on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. The war has killed thousands of Palestinians.

According to Al-Qahera News, the first round of talks ended “amid a positive atmosphere” and will continue on Tuesday.

Hamas Negotiations and Complexity

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator, survived Israel’s recent strike on Hamas leaders in Doha. He met with Egyptian intelligence officials before the talks, an Egyptian security source said.

A Palestinian source close to Hamas said the negotiations, launched near the second anniversary of the attacks, “may last for several days.” The source added, “We expect the negotiations to be difficult and complex, given the occupation’s intentions to continue its war of extermination.”

Trump Rejects Axios Report

Trump dismissed an Axios report claiming he had a tense phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the US peace proposal. Trump said, “No, it’s not true. He’s been very positive. He’s been very positive on the deal. But this is a deal that, incredibly, everyone just came together. They all came together. No, Israel’s been great. They’ve all been good.”