JERUSALEM: Talks to advance President Donald Trump’s plan to finish the Gaza struggle have been on maintain since final week, when the US and Israel collectively attacked Iran, sparking a broader Center East struggle, three sources with direct information of the negotiations mentioned.
The pause threatens to stall implementation of Trump’s flagship Center East peace initiative, which he has solid as a serious overseas coverage goal. It comes lower than a month after he secured billions of {dollars} in pledges for Gaza from Gulf Arab states — international locations that are actually going through Iranian assaults because the battle widens.
Trump’s Gaza plan has hinged partially on whether or not Hamas would lay down their arms in trade for amnesty, a step meant to pave the best way for reconstruction and additional Israeli navy withdrawals. White Home mediators have been backchanneling between Israel and Hamas on the disarmament query.
Negotiations on this and different points have been paused when the Iran struggle started on Feb 28, the three sources mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity to debate delicate talks. The pause in disarmament talks has not been beforehand reported.
Hamas confirms talks ‘frozen’; assembly with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators cancelled
Zaha Hassan, of the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for Worldwide Peace, mentioned international locations, together with the UAE and Qatar which pledged funds for Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ mission, could also be questioning if that is “actually cash properly spent now that they’re dodging rocket fireplace”.
Hamas confirms pause to talks
One of many sources, who has direct information of labor by Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ mission, described the pause as a quick, minor delay brought on by flight disruptions stopping mediators and representatives from touring across the area. Talks have steadily been held in Cairo.
Over the long run, the ‘Board of Peace’ believes the struggle may speed up a decision of the disarmament situation by eradicating Iranian affect, the supply mentioned.
One other supply, a Palestinian official near the mediation effort, mentioned Hamas had been anticipated to carry talks with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators on the day the struggle erupted, however the assembly was scrapped and no new date has been set.
A Hamas official confirmed that talks on Trump’s Gaza plan had been frozen for now, however declined to elaborate. Israel’s authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The White Home didn’t instantly present remark.
Israel’s navy has eased off strikes in Gaza because the starting of the struggle however has not stopped assaults, as Israeli jets perform bombing campaigns in Iran and Lebanon. At the least 16 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Feb 28, well being officers say.
“The second the struggle on Iran is over, [Israel] will come again at us with the identical frequency, with the identical violence,” mentioned Talal Hamouda, 46, who lives in Jabalia within the northern Gaza Strip, along with his spouse and 5 youngsters.
Hamas, for its half, has continued to reassert its grip in areas below its management in Gaza because the struggle started.
Sources near the group say Hamas fighters in current days ambushed a number of Israeli-backed militia members in Gaza’s north and south, killing at the least two individuals.
Revealed in Daybreak, March tenth, 2026
