Middle East

Trump Pushes for Israel, Hamas Deal Ahead of Monday Talks

A plume of smoke rises as Palestinians return from a food distribution point near the Netsarim corridor in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 5.Photographer: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

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By Ethan Bronner

October 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM UTC

Updated on

October 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump is pressing Israel and Hamas to seal a settlement to the two-year conflict that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East, with the warring sides set to begin mediated talks on Monday.

A key sign of progress in the negotiations, taking place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, will be whether Hamas frees all the roughly 20 of its live hostages — plus the remains of those who are dead — in return for Israel releasing about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.