Hamas and Israel begin indirect talks to end devastating war in Gaza

Amna Nawaz:

Today, Israel and Hamas launched indirect talks in Egypt for a potential cease-fire in Gaza. The first phase of the U.S.-drafted peace plan calls for the release of the Israeli hostages in exchange for the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops. A second phase envisions the end of the war and a lasting governance plan for Gaza.

Nick Schifrin is following all this and joins us now.

So, Nick, give us the latest. Where do these talks stand right now?

Nick Schifrin:

So, Amna, as you said, the U.S. and Israel see this happening in two phases. The first phase, Hamas would have to release all 50 Israeli hostages. About 20 or so are believed to still be alive.

And then Israel would not really withdraw, but move back to what the yellow line that you see in this map created by the Trump administration, which is still deep inside Gaza, some four miles inside of Gaza in the south. Israel would also release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

The U.S. and Israel believe that they're having in Cairo right now, or in Sharm el-Sheikh, rather, a technocratic conversation. What's the sequencing of this movement? Does Hamas know where all the hostages are, including the deceased?

But here's the thing. Hamas has not publicly agreed to the very concept of a phase one and a phase two that we have been talking about. And, before today, mediators told me that Hamas was questioning key aspects of this deal, including not only the sequencing, but the very act of disarming that Israel said is required to actually seal this deal.

In the past, Hamas has not been willing to release hostages unless Israel ended the war and agreed to a full withdrawal, and that is not what phase one demands. So what we're watching to see is whether Hamas' thinking has changed, whether they're willing to release hostages before that step that the Israelis would take.

Amna Nawaz:

So, if they even get to us. Tell us — to it.

Tell us about phase two. What does that entail?

Nick Schifrin:

These are the fundamental questions that have dogged all sides since October the 7th.

Let's go through some of them, a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, demilitarizing Hamas, allowing fighters amnesty if they renounce violence, international security force to take over Gaza, and the creation of a government led by Palestinians not connected to Hamas, and, of course, an eventual Palestinian state.

Pushed whether the administration actually does support a Palestinian state this weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described how much time it might take to create new Palestinian governance in Gaza.

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State: That doesn't exist right now. That has to be built, and that's going to take time. You're not going to build that in 72 hours. You're not going to build that in 72 weeks. I mean, it's going to take some time to get to that point.

Nick Schifrin:

For the record, 72 weeks from now is February 2027.

For his part, President Trump was more positive today about Hamas' abilities and intentions.

Donald Trump, President of the United States: I think Hamas now has been — all I can say is, they have been fine. They have been fine. I hope it's going to continue that way. I think it will. I really think we're going to have a deal. We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it'll be a lasting deal. We're going to have peace.

Nick Schifrin:

Amna, to give you a sense, though, of how difficult even phase one will be, a U.S. official confirmed to me today that the U.S. officials' part of this mediation, including Ambassador Steve Witkoff right there and the president's son-law, Jared Kushner, were not in Egypt today and will not be in Egypt until the two sides show more evidence of moving toward some kind of deal.