The White House declined to set a deadline for the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, which began Monday in Egypt, but expressed optimism that a deal could be reached “soon.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “technical discussions are currently taking place in Egypt between Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, Mr. Jared Kushner, and representatives of all sides,” according to The Times of Israel.
An Arab diplomat told the outlet that while Witkoff and Kushner are present in Egypt, they will join the negotiations in person once the talks reach the stage of finalization. The first day of discussions, he said, will focus on allowing parties to outline their positions and enabling mediators to identify remaining differences and how to bridge them.
Leavitt emphasized that “all parties to this conflict now agree that the war must end and support the 20-point framework proposed by President Donald Trump.”
“The administration is working hard to move the process forward as quickly as possible. The President wants to see a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” she added.
She further noted that technical teams are reviewing the lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners to ensure “the conditions are ideal” for their release.
